Levite

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic 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

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

More information about Levites .

complete verse (Nehemiah 10:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 10:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “The first Levites to sign were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui who belonged to the family of Henadad, Kadmiel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Levites who signed were Jeshua the child of Azania, Binui from the family of Henadad, Kadmiel, Shebania, Hodia, Kelita, Pelaya, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabia, Zacur, Sherebia, Shebania, Hodia, Bani, and Beninu.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The other descendants of Levi who signed it were:
    Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui from the clan of Henadad, Kadmiel,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 10:9 - 10:13

And the Levites: The third category includes the names of seventeen Levites. These are names of individuals and not of families. At least ten of these Levites participated in the reading of the Law in Neh 8.7 and/or led in worship and prayer in Neh 9.4-5. Good News Translation combines verses 9-13, identifying this category with the single word “Levites.”

In Hebrew there is a connective conjunction before Jeshua that can be understood with the meaning “that is.” This conjunction is omitted in a number of manuscripts and by the versions, but it was probably in the original text. The colon of Good News Translation following “Levites” can be understood as the equivalent of “that is” (also Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Of the sons of is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Bible en français courant like Good News Translation understands this to refer to “the clan of.”

And their brethren: This phrase occurs at the beginning of verse 10 after the listing of the names of three Levites in verse 9, who may have been Levite leaders. It refers to fellow Levites, not to family or blood brothers. Good News Translation omits it as being redundant in a list that is all Levites, while Bible en français courant renders it “and their companions.” Translators should not omit what is in the text when it can be translated without leading to a wrong understanding.

The name Shebaniah occurs twice in this list (verses 10 and 12). This repetition may be due to a problem in the history of the text. Some manuscripts have “Shecaniah” for one or the other of the two occurrences. However, the names should be retained as they are in MT. In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that they refer to two different people; for example, the first one may be referred to as “a first Shebaniah” and the other one as “a second Shebaniah” or “another Shebaniah.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .