complete verse (Exodus 25:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 25:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “The rings should be made/fixed near the ring/roll where the poles which are used to carry the table are to be entered into (them).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The rings are to be tide to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “near the rim. Here [you (plur.)] insert the poles which are-used-for-carrying the table.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, you (pl.) must make four ring-handles for the table and so affix them onto that wide gol piece for the table’s top and so [it must] follow the table’s four legs. And so those ring-handles will be holding two carrying-poles to be for carrying the table.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “underneath of wood of its tooth, because that is where they will put through its carry-wood there.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The rings should be fastened to the table near the rim.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 25:26-27

And you shall make for it four rings of gold is almost the same as verse 12. The you is singular, but the word for make is different from the word for “cast.” It is likely, however, that these rings were also made by casting the gold, but the more general term, make, should be used here. And fasten the rings to the four corners is literally “and you shall place the rings upon the four edges,” which in this case means corners. At its four legs means, as Good News Translation expresses it, “where its legs are.” New American Bible has “one at each leg.” The word for legs is different from the word for “feet” in verse 12. Contemporary English Version‘s model is a helpful one: “Make four gold rings and attach one to each of the legs.”

Close to the frame the rings shall lie is literally “close to the rim shall be the rings.” These are the same rings as in verse 26, so it is better to say “The rings … are to be placed near the rim” (Good News Translation) or “Place the rings near to the wooden frame.” As holders for the poles is literally “for houses for the poles.” To carry the table uses the same word for carry as verse 14. These poles are described in the following verse.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .