cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Similarly, in Akoose, the translation is “arm distance.” (Source: Joseph Nkwelle Ngome and Marlie van Rooyen & Jacobus A. Naudé in Communicatio 2009, p. 251ff.)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (source: Don Slager) and in Bariai into leoa or “fathom,” which comprises the distance from a person’s fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched, app. 6 feet (source: Bariai Back Translation).

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)

complete verse (Ezekiel 45:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 45:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “From this land is divided out a field with all sides being equal to two hundred and fifty meters, so that the Homestead of God can be built there. An open enclosure must surround (it) which has a width of twenty-five meters.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In this land, you set-aside 875 feet square for a place-to-build the temple, and around the temple there is a vacant place which is 87 feet wide.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Part of that area, 875 feet/265 meters on each side, will be for the temple area. An additional strip of ground, 87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters wide, will be left empty all around the temple area.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 45:2

Of this a square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits shall be for the sanctuary: The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the sacred area described in verse 1. Of this may be rendered “Inside this area” (similarly Good News Translation). A square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits is an area of ground 250 meters (840 feet) square (compare 42.16-20). This ground will be set aside for the sanctuary, that is, for the Temple compound.

With fifty cubits for an open space around it: On all four sides of the Temple compound, there will be an additional strip of land that will be left empty all around it; this was not mentioned in chapter 42. This strip of empty ground will be fifty cubits wide on each side. Fifty cubits is about 25 meters (84 feet). This means that the whole area set apart for the Temple compound will be 600 cubits (50 + 500 + 50 = 600 cubits), that is, 300 meters (1,008 feet), square. This phrase may be rendered “All around the Temple compound there will be a strip of open land that is 25 meters wide.”

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .