complete verse (Exodus 26:32)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 26:32:

  • Kupsabiny: “Someone make four acacia poles which are covered with gold and having golden clips/hooks. Those things should be standing on four things made of silver.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Hang it from four poles overlaid with gold made by acacia wood which stand in the four silver bases making tight with hooks.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Have-(someone)-hang this on gold hooks on four posts of acacia that-are covered with gold. These four posts were-inserted into four silver bases.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it’s done then take akas wood and then make that cloth’s four long posts. Enwrap these for posts with wide pieces of gol, and when it’s done then erect these four posts, so that each of them stand in their silva post bases. And when it’s done, then affix gol hooks onto these posts, so that this big cloth will hang on it.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “you chop white-acacia four for its hanging-wood. That wood, you shall apply it with gold red, you shall pound gold red, made crooks head, seal it at its body. Also you shall pound gold white for its planting-holes.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Tell them to suspend/hang the curtain from four posts made from acacia wood and covered with gold. Set each post in a silver base.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

acacia

The plural form of shittah (shittim) is used sometimes as a place name (see Shittim), which is evidence of the wide distribution of this tree in Sinai and southern Palestine. The acacia referred to in the Bible was of two kinds, the Umbrella Thorn Acacia Acacia tortilis and the Common Acacia Acacia raddiana.

The Acacia tortilis is found in the hot Arabah Valley, whereas the Acacia raddiana tends to be found in cooler conditions throughout Sinai. A third variety (Acacia albida) is found in lowland Israel, the Sharon Plain, and lower Galilee. The common acacia was the only tree available to the Israelites for construction of the Tabernacle.

Both types of acacia are short, reaching 3-5 meters (10-17 feet) tall, but having a wide crown. As members of the Mimosa family, they have sharp spines, finely divided leaves, and tiny pale yellow flowers arranged in drooping bunches. The bean pod they produce is twisted and looped when dry.

Since the acacia is widespread in dry areas of Africa, Arabia, India and Australia, translators in those areas should be able to use a local word. In such languages a local species should be used, especially one that is used for building. Elsewhere, if none of these is available, the translator can transliterate from Hebrew (shittah) or from a major language, for example, sunt or talh (Arabic), akasiya (English/French/Spanish via Latin). West African translators need to beware of confusing “acacia” and “cassia,” a common tree with yellow flowers.

Acacia raddiana, photo by Ray Pritz
Acacia flowers, photo by Gloria Suesss

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 26:32

And you shall hang it is literally “and you [singular] shall place it.” Upon four pillars of acacia uses the same word for pillars as the expression “pillar of cloud” in 13.21. Here, of course, the pillars are made of acacia, so Good News Translation‘s “four posts of acacia wood” may be more appropriate. New Jerusalem Bible has “poles,” and New American Bible has “columns.” The placement of these pillars is not indicated, but they were probably evenly spaced from the north side to the south side, exactly ten cubits from the west end of the tabernacle. Overlaid with gold is discussed at 25.11.

With hooks of gold is literally “and their hooks gold.” The word for hooks can mean “nails” (Holladay), “pins,” or “pegs” (BDB). (See the comment on “clasps” at 26.6.) The pronoun “their” indicates that the hooks were attached to the pillars. So Good News Translation has “posts … fitted with hooks.” Contemporary English Version has “fasten gold hooks to the posts.” Some scholars believe that the shape of the letter waw, used in this Hebrew word as it appeared in the ancient script, described the shape of the hooks, possibly a two-pronged fork. Upon four bases of silver uses the same word as in verse 19, but these bases may have had a different shape to fit the pillars.

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 .