sparrow

While the Greek word strouthion is certainly the name for the sparrow, the Hebrew tsippor is actually an inclusive word that refers to sparrow-sized birds in general. These small birds, especially sparrows, were caught in nets and traps and were an important part of the diet of poor people.

There are three types of sparrow that are common in Israel, the House Sparrow Passer domesticus, the Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, and the Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus. All three are small speckled brown birds. Additional small birds that abound around towns and settlements are members of the bunting, finch, and tit families. Sparrows in particular are usually found in fairly large numbers roosting and nesting together. All are seed eaters and live mainly on grass seeds and grain.

Sparrows were considered clean birds and were associated with the poor.

Sparrows or sparrow-like small birds are found all over the world. Finding a local word is not usually difficult. The reference to “a lonely bird on the housetop” in Psalms 102:7 takes on additional meaning if the sparrow was intended, since it is a bird that is seldom seen alone. It would then indicate the psalmist’s sense of loneliness at being separated from those with whom he belongs.

Source: All Creatures Great and Small: Living things in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (Leviticus 14:50)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 14:50:

  • Kupsabiny: “The priest shall slaughter one bird at a clay pot where the blood can be collected, and there is clean water in it.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The priest must kill one bird over a clay pot containing fresh water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He is-to-butcher/to-kill one of the birds over a clay-pot that has water from the spring.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He must kill one of the birds while holding it over a clay pot containing water from a spring.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 14:50

Here it is the priest who kills the bird. Compare verse 5, where the priest commands others to perform the ritual killing of the bird. The same problems exist in this verse with regard to the exact positioning of the person performing the sacrifice, the bird, the clay pot, and the spring water. See the earlier discussion.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .