Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 34:31:
Kupsabiny: “But Moses called them to go to where he was. So Aaron plus all the leaders went to were Moses was and (he) talked to them.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “But Moses called them, so Aaron and the leaders came to him, then he spoke to them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But Moises called to them, so Aaron and the leaders of the Israelinhon came-near/(close), and Moises talked/spoke with/to them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Bariai: “But Moses called to them, therefore Aron and all the leaders went close to him again, and then Moses was talking to them.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
Opo: “But Moses called them. Therefore, Aaron and elders of Israel go to him, go speak with him.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
English: “But Moses/I called to them. Then Aaron and the other Israeli leaders came to him/me, and he/I talked with them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).
In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:
The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).
In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
But Moses called to them implies that the people were some distance from him. And Aaron and all … returned to him suggests that they had come out to meet him, but then drew back when they saw his shining face. New International Version says that they “came back to him.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version do not reflect this double movement of coming near, drawing back, and then returning to him. All the leaders of the congregation probably refers to all the tribal leaders. The same expression is used in 16.22. (For congregation see the comment at 12.3.) Good News Translation has “all the leaders of the community.”
And Moses talked with them is literally “and Moses spoke unto them.” This suggests that Moses did most of the talking. What he said is not indicated, but we may assume he assured them that Yahweh had been willing to renew the covenant.
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.