The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, 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 Judges 18:15:
Kupsabiny: “Then those five men went to the home of Micah and greeted the young man from the clan of Levi.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So they went to the place where that young Levite lived, close to Micah’s house. And [they] talked with him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “After they had-decided what they were-going-to-do, they went to the house of Micas and greeted the young Levite who lives there.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So they went to the house where the man from the tribe of Levi lived, which was the house where Micah lived, and they greeted the young man from the tribe of Levi who had become Micah’s priest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And they turned aside thither: The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And may be translated “So” (New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation), since it introduces the response of the Danite warriors. The pronoun they could refer to just the five spies, but it more likely refers to the whole group of soldiers. It seems somewhat ridiculous that 600 soldiers would go into Micah’s compound, but this too may be the storyteller’s way of making fun of the Danites. Contemporary English Version makes the referent for the pronoun they explicit by saying “The six hundred warriors,” which conveys some of the irony. Turned aside renders a key Hebrew verb (sur) that occurs throughout this book (see comments on verse 18.3). As here, it is used often to describe an irresponsible act. The Hebrew adverb rendered thither (“there” in New International Version) refers to Micah’s compound. Turned aside thither may be rendered “left the road” (Contemporary English Version), “turned off the road” (New Living Translation), “turned toward those houses,” or “headed for those houses.”
And came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah: The Danite soldiers go to the place where the Levite was living. In Hebrew the pronoun they is understood as the subject of the verb came. The soldiers are looking specifically for the young Levite the spies had previously met (see verse 17.7). The Hebrew word for house occurs twice in this clause, once in reference to where the young Levite is staying, and once in reference to the home or compound of Micah. In many languages it may be confusing to speak of two houses, so appropriate terminology should be used here. If necessary, we might say “and they went to the house [or, living quarters] of the young Levite on Micah’s compound.”
And asked him of his welfare: The subject of the Hebrew verb rendered asked is probably the five spies as the leaders of the Danite soldiers. Asked him of his welfare (literally “asked him regarding/for peace”) certainly refers to a greeting. The Hebrew word for welfare is shalom, which means “peace” in some contexts (see verse 4.17), but here it refers to the well-being of a person. Some versions simply say “greeted him” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version), while others try to use more colloquial language. For example, Good News Translation says “asked the Levite how he was getting along.” We might say “gave him a greeting” or even “said ‘shalom’ to him.” Once again the storyteller brings much irony to the text, since these men have anything but peace in mind! Though Revised English Bible thinks the pronoun him refers to Micah, most commentators think it points to the young Levite. However, in many cultures it would be more likely that these visitors would greet the head of the household (Micah) first.
Translation models for this verse are:
• So they made their way to Micah’s house, where the young Levite was living, and they asked him how he was.
• So they turned and went to Micah’s house, where the young Levite was staying, and greeted him.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
18:15a So they turned aside there and went to the home of the young Levite, the house of Micah,
Then they turned off the road and went to the house where the young Levite was living on Micah’s property
-or-
So they went into Micah’s yard, to the house where the young man of Levi was staying.
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