complete verse (Exodus 37:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 37:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “He used pure gold to make plates, jugs and bowls for pouring out libation sacrifice of wine.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He made the plate, bronze water pot and a spouted water pot for pouring soup and bowls from pure gold.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also made things-for-use which is pure gold for the table: plates, cups, bowls, and pitchers/jars that will-be-used for the drinking offering.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And also, he made small dishes and plates and containers and cups from good gol. Those things were for the pouring out of oain offerings.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Also, they brought gold which not eye mixed with other things, forged it for platter with bread bowl, with cup which they put alcohol down on altar.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “He also made from pure gold all the things to be put on the table. He made the plates, the cups, and the jars and bowls to be used when the priests poured out wine as an offering to Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 37:16

This verse is similar to 25.29, but the word order is not the same. A comparison in Revised Standard Version reveals the difference. And he made the vessels, literally “and he made the articles,” uses the same general term for vessels that is frequently used for all kinds of “accessories” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “utensils” (Translator’s Old Testament). (In 3.22 it is used for “jewelry.”) The context here identifies these vessels as plates, dishes, bowls, and flagons, using the same terms as in 25.29. (See the comment there.)

Its bowls and flagons is changed from “its flagons and bowls” in 25.29, but probably there is no intended difference in meaning. The following phrase, with which to pour libations, should be understood to refer to both the bowls and the flagons, not just to the flagons. Good News Translation retains the same order as in 25.29, but it is better to follow the Hebrew here, unless it is more natural to speak of “jars and bowls” than it is of “bowls and jars.” Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse: “Everything that was to be set on the table was made of pure gold—the bowls, plates, jars, and cups for wine offerings.”

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 .