tithe

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “tithe” in English (which etymologically has the meaning of “the tenth”) is translated in Mokole as “(give) the tenth part.” This is the translation that most languages use that don’t use a specialized term like English does. See also complete verse (Hebrews 7:4) et al.

Source for Mokole: Hilary Deneufchâtel.

Levi

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Levi” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies a menorah referring to the temple service of the tribe of the Levites. The same sign is also used for the tribe. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Levi” or “Levite” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Levite, Levi and the Tribe of Levi .

complete verse (Hebrews 7:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 7:9:

  • Uma: “The priests descendants of Lewi do get one-tenth-part from their companions. But we can say: those priests descendants of Lewi pay/paid one-tenth-part to Melkisedek.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If this is explained, (it means that) Libi, the ancestor of the priests who receive tithes from the people was also included giving his tithes to Malkisadik when Ibrahim gave his tithes to Malkisadik.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for Levi, who is the ancestor of all of the priest of the Jews, we understand also that when Abraham gave the tenth part to Melchizedek, Levi gave also to Melchizedek.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Fourth, even plural Levi who are given a tenth, we can say that they were joined-to Abraham in giving a tenth to Melkizedek,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore we could say that even Levi, who was the source/ancestor of those receiving a tenth part from the Israelita, by the hand of Abraham it’s like he also gave a tenth part there to Melquisedec.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Again now, the priests of the Jews who now live take the tenth from the people. But all these priests are those of whom the root is Levi who was the first of them. And as for Levi, it was Abraham who was his root. Therefore when Abraham took a tenth and delivered it over to Melchizedek, then this Levi and all the rest of the priests would be said to also be delivering the tenth to Melchizedek.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English means “father of a multitude,” “father of mercy,” “father of many nations.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In the vast majority of sign languages, including American Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign for that demonstrates his new destiny. Previously, he had been called to wander from his home, and the name “Abram” reflected this movement (see here). The new sign name is in one location and stays there, showing Abraham will be given a land to call his own. At this time, Abraham was in the southern part of Canaan, which is shown on the base arm by the location near the elbow. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Abraham” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Abraham .

Translation commentary on Hebrews 7:9

Verses 9 and 10 form a single sentence in the Greek. They sum up the references to Abraham, Levi, and the priests, tying them together with one another and with the text quoted in verse 1. This summing-up takes place in two stages, the first of which is not in the text but may need to be expressed in translation: (a) the priests are identified with their ancestor Levi; (b) Levi is then identified with his own ancestor Abraham. Good News Translation‘s expansion for readers for whom (a) needs to be made clearer involves adding whose descendants. This is followed by most common language translations. When is not emphasized; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy‘s “at the moment when” is too strong. The text means simply that Levi paid the tithe through his ancestor Abraham.

So to speak may be rendered as “one might say” or “it is possible to say.”

Abraham paid: it is important to avoid implying that Abraham was paying for something which he had received. It may be better to use some such phrase as “when Abraham gave the tenth.”

Whose descendants collected the tenth may be rendered as “those who descended from Levi received the tenth which was given to them.”

Levi … paid: see note on Abraham paid earlier in this verse.

In the Bible, descendants are often identified with their ancestors. In the Old Testament, “Israel” is sometimes the name of an individual, also called Jacob, but more often is the name of the people which descended from him. See also Romans 5.12-21; 1 Corinthians 15.22. How far the identification of ancestor and descendants needs to be made clear by expanded translation or marginal notes is a matter of culture rather than of language. In some cultures, including non-Christian cultures, this idea may be quite natural and therefore present fewer problems to the translator than in English.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .