sell

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sell” in English is translated in Noongar as wort-bangal or “away-barter.” Note that “buy” is translated as bangal-barranga or “get-barter.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)

See also buy and buying / selling.

year of Jubilee

The Hebrew that is translated as “(year of) Jubilee” in English is translated in Kwere as mwaka wa kubweleza or “year of return.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Leviticus 25:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 25:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “But if the man does not have things that are enough to bring back the field, that field shall remain with the one who bought it until the year of release. Then, the field is to be released and returned to the (original) owner.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he is not able to redeem it like that, it will stay in the hands of the one who bought the family property up to the Year of Jubilee. Then at the time of the Year of Jubilee, it will certainly be returned to the owner.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But if his (money)-for-redeeming/for-buying-back (is) still lacking, this will-remain with the-one-who bought (it) until the arrival of the Year of Setting-Free and Returning. In that year, he will-be-able-to-buy-back/redeem his land without payment.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But if the original owner does not have any money to buy the land that he sold, it will continue to belong to the man who bought it, until the next Year of Celebration. In that year it must be returned to its original owner, and he will be able to live on it again.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 25:28

If he has not sufficient means: literally “if his hand does not acquire enough….” Compare verse 26 above.

Remain in the hand: obviously this cannot be meant literally, since a plot of land cannot be held in the hand. The expression merely indicates that the land in question will continue to be considered the possession of the buyer until the Year of Restoration.

The second part of this verse contains two problems:
(1) In the jubilee it shall be released: literally “he (or, it) will go out in the jubilee.” The subject of the verb may be either the buyer (who would go out of the land that is restored to the original owner) or the land (which would go out of the hands of the buyer on restitution of the land to the original owner). This latter solution is followed by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions consulted.
(2) He shall return to his property: here also, the subject is ambiguous. It may be the buyer, who is required to return to his own property, since he has to give up the acquired land. Or it may be the original owner, who returns to the land that belonged for a time to the buyer. The second interpretation seems better adapted to this context and would have the same meaning as in verses 27 and 28.

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 .