consecrate, consecration

The Greek and Hebrew that are translated as “consecration” or “consecrate” in English is translated in Poqomchi’ as “set apart” (when applying to a ritual not to a moral status). (Source: Robert Bascom)

In Newari it is translated as “make holy” (source: Newari Back Translation) and in Kwere as “put to holy work” when it refers to making someone or something suitable for priestly duties, when it refers to individual consecration outside of the priestly duty, “offer (yourselves) for my sake” is also used. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also holy / sacred / taboo.

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 27:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 27:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “If the person has dedicated his farm in the year of release, the value of the things that come from the farm until it is released is to be decided.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he dedicates his field right after the Year of Jubilee family festival, its value must be exactly as the priest declares.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If he offers/dedicates his field just after the Year of Setting-Free and Returning, its price/value (will) still (be) the same.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If he dedicates the land during the Year of Celebration, its full value will be that amount.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 27:17

From: the preposition used here may be understood as meaning “in,” “during” (New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version), or “immediately after” (Good News Translation). Since the cycle began again after the Year of Jubilee was over, it is probably better to translate the idea “beginning as soon as the Year of Restoration is over.”

The year of jubilee: see 25.10.

It shall stand at your full valuation: the verb used here is the same as at the end of verse 14. There is no word in the Hebrew text corresponding to full, but it is clearly implied. On the expression your valuation, see verse 2.

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 .