family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

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 .

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English means “light,” “a mountain of strength” “to be high.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

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 Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Joshua 21:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “The first city given to the house of Aaron was Kiriath-arba in the highland of Judah. (Anak was the grandchild/descendant of Arba and Kiriath-arba is today called Hebron which is one of (those cities) where people may flee to.)” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These cities were for the descendants of Aaron of the Kohathite clan of the tribe of Levi. For the first lot fell to them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the names of the towns/cities from the land[s] of the tribes of Juda and Simeon that were-given to the descendants of Aaron. They (were) descendants of Kohat the child/(son) of Levi. They (were) the first-(ones) to-whom the lot-fell to-be-given towns/cities.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “First, they allotted cities to the members of the Kohath clans.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:9 - 21:10

Good News Translation in verse 10 seems to imply that there were (or could be) descendants of Aaron who were not members of the clan of Kohath. Instead of the present Good News Translation text, it would be better to say “… to the members of the clan of Kohath who were the descendants of Aaron.” It is not necessary to repeat the information that they were Levites, since this is very redundant in the context. Aaron was the grandson of Kohath, one of the three sons of Levi.

Verses 9-10 may then be translated as a unit: “The members (or those members) of the clan of Kohath who were the descendants of Aaron received nine cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon.” For some languages it would also be acceptable to use a passive: “Nine cities from the tribes of Judah and Simeon were given to the members (or, those members) of the clan of Kohath who were the descendants of Aaron.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .