bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (Exodus 38:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 38:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “And/But the bronze which was offered to/set aside for God was two thousand four hundred and twenty five kilos (2,425).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The bronze offered was 2,467 kilograms.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The weight of the bronze that-was offered to-the LORD around 2,425 kilos.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And all the bras which the Israel people offered for making God’s shelter, they counted its heaviness which amounted to two thousand four hundred twenty-five (2,425) kilos.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And metal red which children of Israel give for gift(s) of uplifting, its weight be kilo which be 2,425.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The bronze that the people contributed weighed 5,310 pounds/2,425 kg..” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 38:29

The bronze that was contributed is literally “And bronze of the elevation offering.” As mentioned at verse 24 above, the term “elevation offering” is discussed at 29.24. This refers to what the people donated in 35.24, although a different term for “offering” is used there. The two terms are so similar that Good News Translation translates in the same way: “The bronze which was dedicated to the LORD.”

Seventy talents, at 75 pounds each, amounts to 5,250 pounds, or 2,397 kilograms. Two thousand and four hundred shekels equal about sixty pounds, or twenty-eight kilograms, so the total is approximately “5,310 pounds” (Good News Translation), or “2,425 kilograms.”

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 .