20besides two hundred twenty of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.
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
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 8:20:
Kupsabiny: “They also brought for us the people of work (servants) in the House of God which reached 220. Those people were from the family where David picked his other/some leaders in order to help the Levites. All those people were registered in their own names.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Two hundred and twenty temple servants also came. The practice of keeping people like this to help the Levites was started by King David and his officials. All these were also included in the list by name.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “They also sent the 220 servants in the temple. The servants in the temple were-chosen before by King David and his officials to help the Levites. Their names were- all -listed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “They also sent 220 other men to work in the temple. Those men’s ancestors had been appointed by King David to assist the descendants of Levi who helped the priests in the temple. I listed/wrote the names of all those men.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Besides two hundred twenty of the temple servants: In addition to the Levites, a group of temple servants was sent (see Ezra 2.43).
Whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites: The reference is to King David who was known to the readers of the original text. Good News Translation makes this explicit for today’s readers. The word officials translates the same Hebrew word that was rendered “officers” in Ezra 7.28. It can be translated “leading men,” “princes” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “chiefs” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
The basic meaning of the Hebrew verb translated set apart is “to give”; that is, King David and his officials “gave them” or “designated them” to attend the Levites. They were assigned to provide service to the Levites, “to assist the Levites” (Good News Translation). This does not refer specifically to the temple servants who were sent at this time, but to their ancestors as Good News Translation makes clear. This is the only reference in the Old Testament to the origin of this category of Temple workers.
These were all mentioned by name: In contemporary English “to mention” conveys a fairly casual notion. The meaning here can be “listed” as Good News Translation renders it, “indicated” (New English Bible), “designated” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “registered” (New International Version). The Hebrew text uses a passive verb construction and does not say where the names of these Temple servants were recorded. If the receptor language does not use a passive construction or a stative form, it may be necessary to use an alternative construction such as the indefinite third person plural: “They recorded the names of all of them in writing.” Alternatively, an indefinite subject may be introduced; for example, “People wrote the names of all of them in books.” Translators must make it clear that it was the names of the people who were chosen now that were written down and not their ancestors who had been designated by King David.
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 .
8:20a They also brought 220 of the temple servants,
They also sent to us (excl.) two hundred and twenty (220) temple servants. -or-
Two hundred and twenty other men were also brought to us to work in the temple.
8:20b all designated by name.
All of their names were written down. -or-
I wrote/recorded the names of all ⌊of the two hundred and twenty (220) temple workers⌋.
8:20c David and the officials had appointed them to assist the Levites.
These were a class/order of workers that ⌊King⌋ David and his officials had appointed/assigned to help the men of the clan of Levi. -or-
⌊King⌋ David and his leaders ⌊long ago⌋ gave ⌊the ancestors of⌋ these men the task/job of serving the descendants of Levi.
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