grate

In Gbaya, the notion of a grate or mesh is emphasized in the referenced verses with the ideophone háŋányáŋá.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (Exodus 27:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 27:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “A net of bronze wires should be plaited and four rings made of bronze for the four corners.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Make a grid of bronze for it, also make four rings of bronze at each of four sides to carry the altar.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] also have-(someone)-make a bronze grill/grating for the altar, and have- a bronze ring -put-on each corner.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, you (pl.) must make a bras grate for this table to be for fire. And make it with its four ring-handles which go up onto its four corners.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “you shall pound metal red, weave it [so that] it be entwined [eye] as grating. Also, you shall pound its corner [so that] it be bored hole.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Also tell them to make a bronze grating to hold the wood and burning coals. They must fasten to each of the corners of the altar a bronze ring for carrying the altar.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 27:4

You shall also make is literally “And you [singular] shall make.” This may also be rendered as “You [Moses] have them make.” For it means for the altar. A grating, a network of bronze is literally “a grating a work of net [of] bronze.” This really means “a bronze grating, a network [or, meshwork].” It was probably a kind of latticework with narrow strips of bronze woven together in an open crisscross pattern. The word for grating is related to the word for “sieve,” as in Amos 9.9. Its purpose is not explained, but it was probably intended to hold the burning coals and allow the ashes and grease to fall through to the ground, as well as to allow for a draft of air to pass through from underneath. Both were necessary for a hot fire.

And upon the net refers to the bronze grating. You shall make is identical with the first part of the verse. Four bronze rings uses the same word for rings as in 25.12, 26 and 26.29. At its four corners suggests that the grating may have been flat and square-shaped. Some scholars suggest, however, that it was made like a basket or collar, to fit under or around the outside of the altar. It is more likely that it was placed inside the altar, where it held the burning coals and allowed the air to pass through. The rings were the “carrying rings” (Good News Translation) intended to hold the poles (verse 7), but they were to be attached to the net, that is, to the network of bronze. So we may imagine that this grid had special extensions at its four corners that penetrated through the wooden sides of the altar. This would make it possible for the four bronze rings to be on the outside and still be attached to these extensions of the grid on the inside.

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 .