Levite

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

More information about Levites .

complete verse (Ezra 10:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 10:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “And the Levites were Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From the Levites — Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah ([also] called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Of/from the Levites:
    Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaya (also was-called Kelita), Petahia, Juda, and Eliezer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Ezra 10:23

A number of names in the list are repeated several times and are common names found elsewhere in Ezra and Nehemiah. One person who can be identified is Jozabad in this verse. His name is also found in Ezra 8.33, where he was one of the Levites who received the gifts for the Temple from Ezra, in Neh 8.7 as one of the Levites who helped explain the Law, and in Neh 11.16 as one of the leaders of the Levites supervising the work on the outside of the Temple.

Also in this verse is Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), who is mentioned in Neh 8.7 and 10.10 by his nickname Kelita, which means “cripple” or “dwarf.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation both place the nickname in parentheses to show that while this is part of the text, it is an editorial comment or explanation (also Revised English Bible, New International Version). Other versions like New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible separate this explanation from the rest of the sentence by placing it between long dashes. Translators should do here as they have done elsewhere to indicate editorial comments in the text.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ezra 10:23

10:23 Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

¶ These are the descendants of Levi: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah who was also called Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
-or-
¶ Some of the men from the clan of Levi ⌊had married women who were not Jews⌋. They/There were Jozabad and Shimei and Kelaiah, that is Kelita, and Pethahiah and Judah and Eliezer.
-or-
¶ Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (whose other name was Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer were ⌊temple workers/servants⌋ from the clan of Levi ⌊who had taken pagan women as wives⌋.

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