The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”
In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)
The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew and Greek that is typically translated as “grain offering” is translated in Tatar as “bread gift,” in the ItalianTraduzione interconfessionale in lingua corrente (2014) as offerta di vegetali (“vegetable offering”), in the FrenchParole de Vie (2000) as un produit de la terre (“a product of the earth”) and in German as Speiseopfer (“food offering”). (Source: Lénart de Regt in The Bible Translator 2017, p. 131ff. )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 7:10:
Kupsabiny: “The food which has been mixed with olive oil or that which has no oil in it is to be distributed for the priests to receive it.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The whole Grain Offering whether mixed with oil or dry, must be shared out equally with the sons of Aaron.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “All the gift offerings, which were-mixed with oil or not, belong-to the priests who (are) the descendants of Aaron and they will-divide this equally.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “And offerings of things made from grain, whether they were mixed with olive oil or not, also belong to the sons of Aaron.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
This verse may be understood in one of two different ways: (a) It concerns a different case from the one dealt with in verse 9, the present case being related to uncooked grain offerings. Or (b) it concerns the same case as mentioned in verse 9, but adds new information regarding the distribution of the offering among the group of priests. It is recommended that the translator adopt the first interpretation and that, if necessary, the second be explained in a footnote, since some scholars consider it to be the more probable interpretation.
And: assuming that the first interpretation mentioned above is adopted, the transition word used here should probably show contrast with the previous verse since in that case the reference is to cooked grain offerings, while here uncooked grain offerings are involved. Both New Jerusalem Bible and Good News Translation introduce this verse with “But.” It may also be advisable to add “uncooked” as in Good News Translation, or say “But every other meal offering…,” as in New Jerusalem Bible.
The sons of Aaron: see 1.7.
One as well as another: literally “each equal with his brother.” The meaning is clearly brought out in Good News Translation “and must be shared equally among them.”
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 .
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