complete verse (Exodus 37:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 37:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “He made for it poles for carrying from acacia wood and coated/covered (them) with gold.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he made two carrying poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then they made poles of acacia that was-covered with gold.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it was done, then he took two long [pieces of] akas wood and then scraped them well to be carrying poles. And then he wrapped those two poles with wide pieces of gol.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And he chop white-acacia two for its carry-wood, apply it with gold red,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “He made two poles from acacia wood, and covered them with gold.” (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 37:4 - 37:5

Verses 4-5 are identical with 25.13-14 with the exception of the verbs he made, he overlaid, and he put, which show the work was done by Bezalel exactly as Yahweh had specified to Moses. One other minor difference is that 25.14 has “to carry the ark by them,” whereas here it is simply to carry the ark. Good News Translation puts “carrying poles” at the beginning of the verse, whereas Contemporary English Version has the idea of “carried” in the final sentence, “so the chest could be carried by the poles.” In languages that do not use the passive, one may say, for example, “so that they could use the poles to carry the chest.”

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 .