fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Exodus 39:37)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 39:37:

  • Kupsabiny: “(They) also brought the golden thing where lamps are placed on (lampstand) and the lamps and everything which go with (it) and the oil for the lamps.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “lampstand of pure gold and its lamps and other materials and pure oil,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the place-to-put-on the pure gold light and the lights and its things-that-are-use; the oil for the lights;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “and the gol lams stand together with its lams, and its other things, and the oil for the lams,” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “and lampstand with its bowls and its things and its oil,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “the lampstand made of pure gold and all its lamps and all the things that were to be used to take care of it, the oil for the lamps,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 39:35 - 39:37

The ark of the testimony is listed simply as “the ark” in 35.12. This expression is first mentioned in 26.33. (See the comment there.) This ark, of course, is the same as “the ark of the covenant” (New Revised Standard Version), or “the Covenant Box” (Good News Translation), but the testimony refers to the “reminders,” or “the commandments” (New American Bible) written on “the stone tablets” (Good News Translation) that were placed inside. With its poles is literally “and its poles.” The mercy seat was the “lid” (Good News Translation) to the “Box.” (See the comment at 25.17.)

The table, listed in 35.13, is described in 25.23 and 37.10. With all its utensils includes the carrying poles as well as the different “vessels” mentioned in 25.29 and 37.16. The bread of the Presence is mentioned in 25.30. (See the comment there.)

The lampstand of pure gold is literally “the pure lampstand [menorah].” The word gold is not in the text, but it is implied from the description in 25.31 and 37.17. And its lamps is literally “with its lamps” (New Revised Standard Version). These were the seven lamps mentioned in 25.37 and 37.23. With the lamps set is literally “lamps of the row.” This may mean that the lamps were already placed on the lampstand, or that they were “arranged” (Durham) in some order, or that they were “to be set in a row” (Translator’s Old Testament). New American Bible has “with its lamps set up on it,” which seems most likely. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit this phrase entirely.

And all its utensils refers to the “snuffers” and “trays” that were to be kept with the lampstand. (See the comment at 25.38 and at 37.23.) And the oil for the light, literally “and the oil of the luminary,” refers to the olive oil to be burned in the lamps. (See the comment at 25.6.)

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 .