complete verse (Exodus 25:39)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 25:39:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those things are to be made from gold weighing thirty four kilograms.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You need about 35 kilos of pure gold to have-(someone)-make the things-for-putting the lamp(s) and all the-things-for-using it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “All this gol for the lams stand and its things, its weight will amount to approximately thirty-four kilo.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “These many things, lampstand and its things, you shall make it with kilo of gold which be 35.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Tell them to use 75 pounds/35 kg. of pure gold to make the lampstand and the tongs and the trays.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 25:39

Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made refers to the lampstand, and with all these utensils refers to the snuffers and trays. If the lamps were made of gold, then they would be included in “all this equipment” (Good News Translation). (But see the comment at verse 37.) The talent, a unit of weight, was approximately “seventy-five pounds” (Good News Translation), or “thirty-five kilograms.”

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 .