complete verse (Exodus 35:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 35:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “the curtains for the courtyard of the Tent, pillars and the things (they) stand on and the curtains for the gate of that courtyard,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “curtains of courtyards, its pillars and bases, entrance’s curtain of courtyard” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the curtains around the yard of the Tent and its posts and bases; the curtain at the entrance of the yard;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “and the cloths for the fence together with their posts and post-bases, and the big cloth which blocks the opening of the fence,” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “with clothes which they will hang for fence, with its wood, with its planting-holes, with cloth of its door,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “the curtains to surround the courtyard and the posts and bases for the posts from which to hang the curtains, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 35:17 - 35:18

The hangings of the court were “the curtains for the enclosure” (Good News Translation) that marked off the open “courtyard” around the tent. The same words are used in 27.9. (See the comment there.) Its pillars and its bases refers to the “posts” (Good News Translation) to which the hangings were fastened and the bronze “sockets” on which these “posts” were placed. These are described in 27.9-15. And the screen for the gate of the court is discussed at 27.16.

The pegs of the tabernacle … of the court were the bronze “Tent pegs” (Good News Translation) mentioned in 27.19. (See the comment there.) And their cords were the “ropes” that were tied to the pegs.

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 .