cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Similarly, in Akoose, the translation is “arm distance.” (Source: Joseph Nkwelle Ngome and Marlie van Rooyen & Jacobus A. Naudé in Communicatio 2009, p. 251ff.)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (source: Don Slager) and in Bariai into leoa or “fathom,” which comprises the distance from a person’s fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched, app. 6 feet (source: Bariai Back Translation).

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Exodus 36:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 36:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “All those frames had a height of fifteen feet and width of two feet and three inches.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Each plank was ten cubits long and a cubit and half wide.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The length of each frame was 15 feet and the width was two feet.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Each of the studs had a length amounting to two and a half fathoms. And the cross-pieces between each of the studs had a length of 27 inches (lit. extending to our[incl] armpit).” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Tree which they build, its height be joint of hand which be 10, and width of the one be joint of hand one and a half.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Each frame was 15 feet/4.5 meters long and 27 in./66 cm. wide.” (Source: Translation for Translators)