complete verse (Exodus 36:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 36:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) made fifty things which were tied/wound (to form a loop/ring) and sewed/stitched (them) onto one side/end of both the two cloths.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then they made fifty loops in the last piece of cloth that was joined first. They did the same in the cloth that was joined later.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They put 50 seemingly-rings each edge of the two joined-together clothing-material,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, he sewed the cloth’s fifty ring-handles on the edge of those two big cloths.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And clothes these two they sewed thus, they sewed inside of loops which be 50 at edge of one, with inside of loops which be 50 at edge of another, made it meet mouth.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They made 100 loops of blue cloth. They fastened 50 of them to the outer edge of the one set and they fastened 50 to the outer edge of the other set.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 36:17 - 36:18

Verse 17 is quite similar to 26.10, with only a few minor differences. The verb he made, of course, replaces the verb “you shall make.” With this change it may be translated in the same way.

Verse 18 is not identical with 26.11, but the meaning is the same. And he made fifty clasps simply changes the verb from a command spoken to Moses (26.11) to the narrative account here, that Bezalel and his assistants actually “made fifty bronze hooks” (Good News Translation). He made should be changed to “they made” (Good News Translation), as explained above. Contemporary English Version has “were put.” (See verse 8.) To couple the tent together describes only the purpose of the clasps; it does not state here that the two pieces were actually joined at this time. The final assembly of the various parts of the Tabernacle is recorded in chapter 40 as part of the grand climax of the book.

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 .