complete verse (Exodus 26:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 26:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “The two frames for the corners on the lower side should be made/fused together and then they are to be fixed tightly with one ring on the upper side.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These must overlap from top to bottom.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These corner boards will-be-joined/connected well from the bottom and made-tight to the top passing-through the one loop/thing-like-a-ring. The two corner boards must be-made the exact same way.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “At these two corners of the shelter’s back side, attach those pieces of wall bones with ring-handles and hooks, from its base going upward. Attach both of the corners of the shelter’s back side like that.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Wood these two [which] you will build on a corner , not (imp.) it bind below, bind it approximately crossbeam of above and its head. you shall did it thus on its both.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The two corner frames must be joined from the bottom to the top (OR, joined at both the bottom and the top). At the top of each of the two corner frames there must be a gold ring for holding the crossbar.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 26:23 - 26:24

And you shall make uses the singular you. Two frames uses the same word for frames (see verse 15). For corners of the tabernacle in the rear refers to “the southwest and northwest corners” (Contemporary English Version) of the tent, the mishkan. This should be understood as one frame for each corner. The same word for rear is used in verse 22.

Verse 24 is difficult to understand because of the two words translated as separate and joined. The Hebrew words are close in spelling, and some ancient manuscripts indicate that the same word was originally used in both places. They shall be separate beneath is literally “they shall be double [or, twins] from down below.” It is not clear whether the idea of “double” means separate or “joined” (Good News Translation). But joined at the top is literally “and together they shall be complete [or, whole] on its head [or, top].” The conjunction but is the usual waw, which may also mean “and,” as Good News Translation has it. Scholars are divided on the actual meaning intended. Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version understand the two words to have opposite meanings, so the waw is translated as but. Other scholars, however, understand them to mean the same thing, and so the waw is usually translated as “and.” Good News Translation has “joined … and connected.” New International Version has “double from the bottom all the way to the top.” Contemporary English Version has “joined from top to bottom” (similarly Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Bible).

At the first ring is literally “unto the one [or, first] ring.” It may also be understood as “a single ring,” as New International Version, Revised English Bible, and Durham have it. (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “inside one ring.”) Nothing has been mentioned so far about rings for the framework, but verse 29 mentions gold rings that are evidently to be placed along the individual frames for holding the crossbars. The first ring may therefore be the one at “the top.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version, for some reason, omit any reference to the ring. This may be because the function of the ring is unclear. However, if these are the “rings” for the crossbars (see verses 26 and 29), one may translate “and [or, but] joined at the top near the first gold ring for holding a crossbar.”

Thus it shall be with both of them means that both corner frames are to be “made in this way” (Good News Translation). They shall form the two corners again refers to the two frames. The final sentence is repetitive, and some translators will choose to omit it (see Good News Translation).

Alternative translation models for verses 23 and 24 are:

(following Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and others)

• with two more [frames] at the southwest and northwest corners. Make certain that these corner frames are joined at the bottom and also at the top near to the first gold ring for holding a crossbar. This is the way that you are to make these two frames.

(following Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and Translator’s Old Testament)

• with one additional frame at each of the corners at the rear. Place each corner frame at an angle so that it is separate from the main framework at the bottom, but joined to it at the top, where the highest ring shall be for holding the crossbar.

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 .