census

The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “census” in English is translated in these ways:

complete verse (Exodus 38:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 38:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people who were counted were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty (603,550) people who had (were) twenty years and above. Everyone paid the required tax.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The counted men of twenty years old and more than that were 603,550 from each men half shekel according to the sanctuary shekel.” (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 from they who they count in census, men who have years which be 20 and up all, one give his own. Together they be 603,550.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “All the men who were at least 20 years old were counted, and they each paid the required amount. That was a total of 603,550 men.” (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 38:26

A beka a head, literally “a beqaʿ for a skull,” means “one beka per person” (New International Version). The beqaʿ, a unit of weight measurement, was equal to half a shekel and is mentioned only here and in Gen 24.22, where Revised Standard Version translates “a half shekel.” It is not used in 30.13, to which this verse refers. There is therefore no need to retain it here, so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “a half-shekel a head.” Good News Translation avoids using even the word shekel, but this depends on how 30.13 is translated. That is, half a shekel is added in the Hebrew to explain what the beqaʿ was. (See the comment on half a shekel at 30.13.) By the shekel of the sanctuary is the same as in verse 24. (See the comment there.) Contemporary English Version has a helpful model: “Everyone who was counted paid the required amount, and there was a total of 603,550 men who were twenty years old or older.”

For every one who was numbered in the census, literally “for every passer-over to the counted ones,” is the same expression used in 30.13, 14. From twenty years old and upward is identical with 30.14. (See the comment there.) For six hundred and three thousand … men may be more easily written as “603,550 men” (Good News Translation), but rules of style in the receptor language should be followed consistently. This was the total number of men who had been “enrolled in the census” (Good News Translation).

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 .