The next group to be listed is the temple servants or “workmen.” These were a group of people who were responsible for serving the Levites (Ezra 8.20). The Hebrew word (nethinim in the Revised Standard Version footnote) for the people in this group means literally “the given ones” or “the dedicated ones,” that is, those who have been given or dedicated for service. The most menial tasks to be done around the Temple were given to them (see Josh 9.27). Many of their names are foreign, indicating that many of these people were of foreign ancestry (see Num 31.47).

Some versions transliterate and retain the actual Hebrew word for this group of people, Nethinim (so Osty-Trinquet), or they adapt it to their own language, for example, Nethinians (Nouvelle version Segond révisée, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous), even though this is meaningless. Others translate its meaning, for example, “the given ones” (Bible de Jérusalem). However, most versions use a term that describes their function, either as temple servants (New International Version; see also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible with “servants”) or a similar expression (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant), or as “temple slaves” (New Jerusalem Bible). To make the meaning clear, translators should use an expression like “Temple workers.” A footnote can be used for an explanation of the original Hebrew word if necessary.

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 .