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 36:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 36:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) prepared fifteen runners (horizontal poles) out of acacia wood and fixed five on the frames on/at the north side,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They made fifteen crossbars of acacia wood, five crossbars for the one side,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also made crossbars of acacia — five for the south part of the Tent,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, he took akas wood and then made the shelter’s three fastening bands, one above, one in the middle, and one below. He made those fastening bands so that they went up on the two long sides of the shelter and on its short side at the back. But they cut the upper and lower fastening bands, down the middle so that they became two.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Also, they chop crossbeam of white-acacia which be tall, bound crossbeam five on side of left,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The workmen made 15 crossbars from acacia wood.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

acacia

The plural form of shittah (shittim) is used sometimes as a place name (see Shittim), which is evidence of the wide distribution of this tree in Sinai and southern Palestine. The acacia referred to in the Bible was of two kinds, the Umbrella Thorn Acacia Acacia tortilis and the Common Acacia Acacia raddiana.

The Acacia tortilis is found in the hot Arabah Valley, whereas the Acacia raddiana tends to be found in cooler conditions throughout Sinai. A third variety (Acacia albida) is found in lowland Israel, the Sharon Plain, and lower Galilee. The common acacia was the only tree available to the Israelites for construction of the Tabernacle.

Both types of acacia are short, reaching 3-5 meters (10-17 feet) tall, but having a wide crown. As members of the Mimosa family, they have sharp spines, finely divided leaves, and tiny pale yellow flowers arranged in drooping bunches. The bean pod they produce is twisted and looped when dry.

Since the acacia is widespread in dry areas of Africa, Arabia, India and Australia, translators in those areas should be able to use a local word. In such languages a local species should be used, especially one that is used for building. Elsewhere, if none of these is available, the translator can transliterate from Hebrew (shittah) or from a major language, for example, sunt or talh (Arabic), akasiya (English/French/Spanish via Latin). West African translators need to beware of confusing “acacia” and “cassia,” a common tree with yellow flowers.

Acacia raddiana, photo by Ray Pritz
Acacia flowers, photo by Gloria Suesss

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 36:31 - 36:32

Verses 31-32 are almost identical with 26.26-27. And he made is used instead of “and you shall make,” showing that these instructions were carried out. It is good to change the verb to “They made” on the basis of verse 8. Good News Translation again adds “fifteen” in the first part of the verse for a more natural rendering.

In verse 32 the word side is not used for the rear of the tabernacle as it is in 26.27. In both places, however, Good News Translation correctly has “on the west end, at the back.” Other than this the differences are insignificant.

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 .