complete verse (Exodus 38:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 38:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “And silver which people gave was three thousand four hundred and thirty (3430) kilos according to the standard weight.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The amount of silver offered from counted people in census was about 3,520 kilogram according to the measurement of sanctuary.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The weight of all the silver that-was collected around 3,430 kilos according to-the weighed of-the silver on-the scale which-was used by the priests. It/This came from the people which-was listed in-the census. Each one of them gave six grams of silver according to-the weighed of-the silver on-the scale that-was used by the priests. It-has 603,550 people which is aged 20 years above that-was listed in-the census.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And the males whose years were twenty and above, they counted their number and when it was done, then each of them threw a silva coin to go for making God’s shelter. And the silva which they gathered, they counted its heaviness which amounted to three thousand four hundred thirty (3,430) kilos. The number of those males amounted to six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty (603,550).” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And gold white which they take from place of they who they count in census, its weight be kilo which be 3,430 as they weigh thing in house of God.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “All the silver that the people contributed when the leaders took the census/counted the men weighed 7,500 pounds/3,400 kg.. They also used the official standard when they weighed the silver.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

sanctuary

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “sanctuary” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with opatulika or “separated place.” This is understood in a religious setup as a place designated for worship. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Exod 38:25

And the silver from those of the congregation who were numbered is literally “And silver of those numbered of the congregation.” This refers to Yahweh’s command for Moses to receive a census tax in 30.11-16. Here the word silver means “silver,” not just money. (See the comment at 30.13.) The congregation refers to the Israelite “community” (Good News Translation).

A hundred talents equals about 7,500 pounds, or 3,400 kilograms, and a thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels equals about fifty pounds, or thirty kilograms. So the total weight of silver was approximately “7,550 pounds” (Good News Translation), or “3,430 kilograms.” By the shekel of the sanctuary is literally “by the holy shekel.” (See the comment at verse 24 and at 30.13.)

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 .