complete verse (Exodus 25:40)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 25:40:

  • Kupsabiny: “You must see that everything is built according to what I have told you there on the mountain.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Be-sure that you (sing.) have- all of-this -made exactly according-to the plan that I showed you (sing.) here on the mountain.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “When you (pl.) make all these things, you must follow correctly so that it turns out like the image which I show to you (sing.) on the mountain.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “you (sing., imp.) warn yourself, let it be the same with this [which] I showed you on top of mountain.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Make sure that they make these things according to the instructions that I am giving you here on this mountain.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 25:40

And see that you make them is literally “And you see and you make,” using the singular imperative. The pronoun them is not in the text but is implied from the following phrase. Translator’s Old Testament has “Be careful to make it,” referring to the lampstand (“it”) in verse 39. After the pattern for them is literally “in their pattern.” In languages where it is difficult to translate pattern in this context, one may say, for example, “Be careful to make them in the way I am showing you on this mountain.”

Which is being shown you is literally “which you [singular] are being caused to see.” The participle is used, so the tense is not clearly indicated. New Jerusalem Bible uses the past tense, “which was shown you,” and Good News Translation has “according to the plan I showed you.” This is possible, but the context suggests the present progressive, as in Revised Standard Version. On the mountain may be rendered as “on this mountain” or “here on the mountain,” since the wider context places Moses on Mount Sinai. (See 24.18.)

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 .