bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (Exodus 36:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 36:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) prepared fifty clips/hooks made of bronze for joining those clothes.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And then making the fifty hooks of bronze they joined the two clothes in one.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and they connected the 50 bronze hooks.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, he made fifty bras hooks in order to attach to the ring-handles, and so it was for the joining together of those two big cloths. [Since] it was like that then it became like one huge cloth.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “They pound metal red loops which be 50, tied it inside of loops. Therefore, ceiling of tent one.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They made 50 bronze clasps/fasteners and joined the two sets together with them. In that way it formed one cover.” (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 .