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 .

The Idolatry of the Israelites

Artwork by Sister Marie Claire , SMMI (1937–2018) from Bengaluru, India.

For more information about images by Sister Marie Claire and ways to purchase them as lithographs, see here .

For other images of Sister Marie Claire paintings in TIPs, see here.

The following artwork “The Golden Calf” is part of a series of 56 paintings on biblical themes by Kazakh artist Nelly Bube (born 1949):

Copyright by Norwegian Bible Society , used with permission.

For other images of Nelly Bube in TIPs, see here.

complete verse (Exodus 32:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 32:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, all the people removed those bangles/rings of gold and gave to Aaron.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The everyone took off their golden earrings and brought them to Aaron.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So they all took-off their gold earings and brought (them) to Aaron.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Therefore the people brought their gol earrings to him.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Therefore, everyone untie women their gold ear with children their, took it for Aaron.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “So the people did that. They took off all their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 32:3

So all the people took off the rings of gold uses the same strong verb as verse 2, but it also suggests that the people removed them from their own ears rather than the husbands tearing them from the ears of their wives and children. Which were in their ears again specifies that these were earrings. And brought them to Aaron is literally “and caused them to come unto Aaron.”

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 .