the organization of work (image)

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Image taken from the Wiedmann Bible. For more information about the images and ways to adopt them, see here .

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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 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 3:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then those who came next were from the house of Levi who worked under the headship of Rehum the son of Bani. Next was Hashabiah who was the leader of a half area of Keilah. That one was in charge of construction of that wall on behalf of his area/district only.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The ones-who-built the next portion of the stone-wall were the Levites being-headed by Rehum the child of Bani. Next to his was Hashabia the leader/[lit. head] of the half district of Keila.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Next to him, several descendants of Levi who helped the priests repaired parts of the wall. Rehum the son of Bani repaired one section. Hashabiah, who ruled half of the Keilah District, repaired the next section on behalf of the people of his district.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 3:17

The sections of the wall repaired by Levites are listed in verses 17-21. Some versions therefore include a heading here to specify the presence of the Levites. Good News Translation has “Levites Who Worked on the Wall.” The sections where the Levites worked is in an area where the wall approached the Temple. For Levites see Ezra 1.5.

Rehum the son of Bani: Bani was from a family of Levite singers (see Neh 11.22).

Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district: Hashabiah is referred to in Ezra 8.19 and Neh 10.11. Keilah was a town 28 kilometers (17 miles) southwest of Jerusalem. As ruler for half the district of Keilah, he repaired the wall on behalf of his district rather than as a part of the Levite group. Repaired for his district may be restated as “repaired the next section for the people of the district that he ruled over” or “… in place of the people of the district under his rule.”

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 .