family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

complete verse (Exodus 6:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 6:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “And the men who come from the house of Gershon who started clans are: Libni and Shimei.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The male children of Gershon were-namely Libni and Shimei.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And Gerson’s male children’s names were as follows: Lipni and Simei. The two of them were leading in some of the families [descended] from Livai.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Male children of Gershon, be Libni and Shimei. They called family their like that.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei. They were ancestors of clans that have those names.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 6:17

The sons of Gershon were the immediate male offspring of Gershon, who was the first son of Levi. They are listed according to their age, so Libni is the elder. By their families is ambiguous. It uses the same word for families as in verses 14 and 15, but the preposition by is confusing. It may be understood either as “with their clans” (New Jerusalem Bible), meaning “and their clans” (Jerusalem Bible), or “arranged by clans” (Translator’s Old Testament), meaning perhaps “family by family” (New English Bible). New American Bible has “as heads of clans.” Probably “and their clans” is the easiest way to interpret it. Good News Translation‘s “and they had many descendants” seems to be without warrant.

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 .