brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English means “light,” “a mountain of strength” “to be high.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Exodus 28:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 28:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “Let clothes of the priests which are very beautiful and honored be made/sewn for your brother Aaron.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron. It will give him dignity and will make him beautiful.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Have-(someone)-sew holy clothing/garments for Aaron, so-that he will-be-honored.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “You (sing.) will make good decorations for [the work of] offerings for your older brother Aron in order to decorate him. Those decoration also have a taboo/mark of ownership. [Since] it’s like that then his status [will] be great, and so the Israel people will respect him.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “So, you shall make clothing which be special for your brother namely Aaron, in order that it might show his greatness, [so that] they might fear him.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Tell the people to make beautiful clothes for Aaron, clothes that are suitable for one who has this dignified and sacred work.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 28:2

And you shall make uses the singular you, but again it may be expressed as “Have them make” or “Cause them to make.” Holy garments is literally “clothes of holiness.” This refers to “sacred vestments” (New Revised Standard Version), or in this case, “priestly garments” (Good News Translation). Aaron your brother is discussed at verse 1. He was to be the high priest, that is, the leader or chief of all the other priests. For glory and for beauty uses two words that have a similar meaning. The word for glory (kavod) has the basic meaning of “heavy,” but here it is used in the sense of honor, or “dignity” (Good News Translation). (See the comment at 14.4 and 16.7.) The word for beauty carries the meaning of “grandeur” (Revised English Bible) or “splendour” (Translator’s Old Testament). New Revised Standard Version has “for the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron.” It is possible to understand beauty as referring to the garments, and glory referring to the “dignity” (Good News Translation) of the high priest. Contemporary English Version thus renders the verse as “Make Aaron some beautiful clothes that are worthy of a high priest.”

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 .