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 37:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 37:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “He made (a) table out of acacia boards which had a length of three feet and width of one and a half feet and height of two feet and three inches.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He made a table of acacia wood with two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also made the table of acacia (wood), which is about 36 inches long, about 18 inches wide, and about 27 inches high.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it was done, then he made a table from akas wood, its length extending to 36 inches (lit. to our[incl] chest), and its width extending to 18 inches (lit. our elbow’s bending), and its height extending to our armpit.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And they built white-acacia for table. They made length of its below it be joint of hand two, and they made its width it be joint of hand one, and they made length of its height it be joint of hand one and a half.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Bezalel made a table from acacia wood. It was 36 in./88 cm. long, 18 in./44 cm. wide, and 27 in./66 cm. high.” (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 Exodus 37:10-11

These verses are identical with 25.23-24. The verbs he … made (two times) and he overlaid are in past tense to show the completed action in the Hebrew. One other difference in verse 10 is that the table now has the definite article the instead of “a table” in 25.23. Good News Translation has the definite article, but Contemporary English Version retains the indefinite one. Either one is possible.

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 .