tabernacle (noun)

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “tabernacle” in English is translated in San Blas Kuna as “house of prayer that can be carried.” (Source: Ronald Ross)

In Bandi it is translated as “holy sitting place.” The “sitting place for the Bandi is where you live.” Therefore the tabernacle is the place where God lived. (Source: Becky Grossmann in this newsletter )

In Vidunda it is translated as “God’s tent” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Tibetan as gur mchog (གུར་​མཆོག) or “perfect tent” (source: gSungrab website )

In American Sign Language it is translated with with a sign for “tent” combined with a sign referring to the outer court surrounding the tent (see Exodus 27:9 and following). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Tabernacle” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

See also tabernacle (verb) / dwell, festival of Tabernacles and ark of the covenant.

complete verse (Exodus 36:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 36:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “(He/They) made fifty golden clips/hooks which were for joining together those two big clothes to become one to cover the Tent of God on the inside.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And then making the gold hooks they joined two clothes in one with those hooks. In this way the two clothes became one.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also made 50 golden hooks to connect the seemingly-rings to the two joined-together clothing-materials. In this way the Tent Meeting-Place will-be-made.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, he made fifty gol hooks to be for the attachment of those two big cloths, in order for them to go and become like one huge cloth.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “They also pound gold red for loops which be 50, tied it inside of loops. Therefore, covering of Dwelling-Tent-of-God was cloth one.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They made 50 gold clasps/fasteners, to fasten both of the sets together. In that way, the inside of the Sacred Tent was as though it was one piece.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 36:13

This verse is almost identical with 26.6. Only the verbs are different he made, (he) coupled, and (it) was. The singular he made, however, should be changed to “they made” on the basis of verse 8. Coupled is better rendered as “joined” (New Revised Standard Version). One whole means “one piece.” New International Version has “so that the tabernacle was a unit.”

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 .