The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, 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
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 7:43:
Kupsabiny: “These are the Levites who returned: People of the family of Jeshua and Kadmiel (descendants of Hodaviah) 74.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “These are the descendants of the Levites who also returned from being-captive: Descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (from the family of Hodavia) 74 Singers in the temple who were the descendants of Asaf 148 Guards of the entrance/gates of the temple who were the descendants of Sallum, Ater, Talmon, Akub, Hatita, and Shobai 138” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Other descendants of Levi who returned were: 74 from the clan of Jeshua and Kadmiel, who are descendants of Hodevah who is also known as Hodaviah;” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah: The Hebrew text is not clear here, but on the basis of Ezra 2.40, many versions list Jeshua and Kadmiel together as Good News Translation has done, identifying them as belonging to the family line of Hodevah (referred to as Hodaviah in Ezra 2.40). Revised Standard Version and New International Version understand it to list only Jeshua in the line of Kadmiel and Hodaviah. Others like New Jerusalem Bible attempt to retain the ambiguity of the Hebrew. See the almost identical text in Ezra 2.40 where it is recommended that “Jeshua and Kadmiel of the sons of Hodaviah” be translated as a series of four names: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Binnui and Hodaviah. This is given a B rating by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project for the passage here also, and should be followed. It is preferable to spell the name Hodevah as it is spelled here in the Hebrew text, and not to harmonize it with the spelling in Ezra 2.40.
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 .
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