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 weight measure that is translated as “hin” or with a modern equivalent in English is translated in the 1989 TsongaBIBELE Mahungu Lamanene into a measurement of what a traditional container can hold rather than weight: “two pots” for water, wine and milk or “2 calabashes” for oil. (Source: The Bible Translator 1998, p. 215ff. )
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 Numbers 15:9:
Kupsabiny: “three two-liter containers of finely ground flour which has been mixed with two liters of olive oil are to be offered.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Half a hin of oil mixed out on 3/10 ephah of good wheat flour must also be offered as a grain offering.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “should also offer a gift which is six kilos of good/fine kind of flour and mixed with two liters of cooking-oil.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “When you offer these sacrifices, you must also offer a grain offering of six quarts/liters of finely-ground flour mixed with two quarts/liters of olive oil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And when you prepare a bull for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice, to fulfil a vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD: The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular again. Here it refers to each Israelite who sacrifices a bull. Bull is literally “son of cattle” (compare 7.15). When the largest animal, a bull, is sacrificed, the portions of the added offerings are still greater. For burnt offering, sacrifice and to fulfil a vow, see verse 3. For peace offerings, see the comments on 6.14. The Hebrew form for peace offerings (shelamim) is better rendered as singular (so Good News Translation with “fellowship offering”).
Then one shall offer with the bull a cereal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil, and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine: See verses 4-5. The Hebrew text shifts here from second person to third person to refer to each Israelite, saying one shall offer. Some languages may prefer to keep the second person by saying “you shall offer” (similarly New Living Translation). For three tenths of an ephah, Good News Translation has “6 pounds” and Bible en français courant says “nine kilos.” Half a hin is equivalent to about 2 liters or “4 pints” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular again (see the comments above).
As an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD: See verse 3. The general Hebrew term for offering by fire comes at the beginning and the end of the specific discussion about supplemental offerings (verses 3 and 10). It is often regarded as synonymous with a pleasing odor to the LORD. For this reason Good News Translation has left it untranslated (so also Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bijbel in Gewone Taal, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). The word as wrongly suggests that the offering by fire is the same as the drink offering. It is much more likely that the offering by fire refers to the bull sacrifice and its supplemental cereal offering and drink offering. This is why Good News Translation has a separate sentence here, saying “The odor of this sacrifice is pleasing to the LORD,” which is a helpful model.
Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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