horns

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “horns (of the altar)” is translated in the French common language editions (1997 and 2019) as angles relevés or “raised angles” and in the Parole de Vie of 2017 as coins relevés or “raised corners.”

In the Arabic TMA translation it is translated as hayth tjllyat Allah (حيث تجلّيات الله) or “where God’s manifestation are” and in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “corners (of the altar).” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

complete verse (Exodus 37:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 37:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “(He) coated pure gold on the top side, all the four sides and those things like horns, then attached the rim of gold around the edges.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They overlaid the top of it, all around and horns with pure gold. And they made gold molding around it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They covered-over with pure gold the top of-it, the four sides, and the like/as-if horns at the corners, and put a gold border/trim around (it).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it was done, then he took wide pieces of good gol, and then wrapped the four sides of the table with it, and its top and its horns. And he affixed a long gol thing to be the table’s fastening band which surrounds it.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “They apply its head, and its side, and its horn, with gold red, and its tooth, they add gold red on it.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “He covered the top and the four sides, including the projections, with pure gold. He put a gold border around the altar, near the top.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 37:26

This verse is identical with 30.3 except for the verbs He overlaid and he made, which replace the commands “you shall overlay” and “you shall make.”

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 .