fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Exodus 30:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 30:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “Let from those things be made a fragrant oil which is to be used for anointing.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “make sacred anointing oil. Make it as the perfumer makes perfume. It will be sacred anointing oil.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “By-means of this you (sing.) are-to-make holy oil which is very sweet-smelling/fragrant that-is used-for-rubbing.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And speak to a man who has great knowledge of making things having a good smell, and then he will mix these things so that it turns out like an oil having a good smell. This oil has a taboo/mark of ownership, and so it exists as a sign of the things which are mine.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “This [which] they will take , they must make it into oil of anointing as they who be.dry.pl for oil mixing do it. It will be oil of anointing which be holy,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “to make sacred oil for anointing.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 30:25

And you shall make of these is literally “and you [singular] shall make it.” The “it” functions as a direct object, along with the anointing oil to which it refers. Of these refers to the ingredients mentioned in verses 23-24 and sounds better in English. A sacred anointing oil, literally “oil of anointing of holiness,” means that the oil will be “holy” and will be used only for anointing. One may also express this as “Make a sacred [or, taboo] oil for anointing…,” and in languages that must show an object or goal for the verb “anointing,” one may join this verse to verse 26 and translate: “… Make a sacred oil for anointing [or, dedicating] the sacred tent, ….”

Blended as by the perfumer is literally “a mixture of a mixture, work of a mixer.” The same root word, which has the associated meaning of blending spices, is used in three different forms. The perfumer therefore would be one who is skilled in the mixing and blending of spices to make “perfume” (Good News Translation). Translator’s Old Testament has “a blended perfume such as a perfumer would make,” and New American Bible has “perfumed ointment expertly prepared.” Good News Translation loses some of the emphasis by reducing the phrase to “mixed like perfume.” A holy anointing oil it shall be simply repeats the exact words for a sacred anointing oil, with the added emphasis it shall be.

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 .