complete verse (Exodus 39:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 39:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) arranged in the third line jacinth, agate, and amethyst.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst in the third row,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “in the third row, jacinth, agate, and amethyst;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And in the third group of stones, they arranged a somewhat red iasint stone, and a somewhat yellow aget stone, and a very red ametis stone.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Afterwards, they sew gem good on it, arrange it for three times four. Gem three which be present on its top, it be gem which be called odem, and pitdah, and bareqet, and gem three which be present underneath it, it be gem which be called nopek, and sapir, and yahalom, and gem three which be present underneath it, it be gem which be called lesem, and sebo, and ahlamah, and gem three which end it, it be gem which be called taris, and soham, and yasepeh.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “In the third row they put a red jacinth, a white agate, and a purple amethyst.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 39:10 - 39:13

These verses are nearly identical with 28.17-20. Only the verbs are changed from showing incomplete action (future tense) to showing completed action (past tense). Revised Standard Version again translates the different kinds of stones in the same way, but there is considerable uncertainty as to the meaning of the Hebrew terms. This is discussed at 28.17-20.

In verse 13 they were enclosed in settings of gold filigree is literally “encircled [in] settings of gold in their settings.” Two different words are used for “settings”: The first one is identical with 28.11 and suggests the idea of filigree. (See the comment there.) The second one is identical with 28.20 and comes from the word that means “to fill.” Good News Translation‘s “mounted in gold settings” (similarly Contemporary English Version) does not bring out the idea of filigree, but this is a matter of interpretation. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “frames of gold,” and Revised English Bible has “gold rosettes.”

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 .