family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

Asher

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Asher” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign for “(oak) tree” that signifies fruitfulness (referring to Genesis 49:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Asher” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Asher and the Tribe of Asher .

complete verse (Numbers 26:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 26:47:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people from the houses of the clan of Asher were 53,400.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These were the clans of Asher. Their count was 53,400 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They were the families who came from Asher; they were 53,400 in all.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They counted 53,400 men from the tribe of Asher. They were in clans descended from Imnah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and from Beriah’s two sons—Heber and Malkiel. Asher also had a daughter named Serah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 26:44 - 26:47

This paragraph is about the census of the tribe of Asher. It runs parallel to the previous paragraphs in this chapter dealing with the census of other tribes (see the comments on verses 5-7 and 12-14). The clans of Asher descended from his sons Imnah, Ishvi and Beriah, and Beriah’s sons Heber and Malchi-el (see Gen 46.17; 1 Chr 7.30-31).

And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah: Serah is also mentioned in Gen 46.17 and 1 Chr 7.30. In this context of a military census, this sentence seems a striking interruption; it heightens the importance of Serah and the role of women in general (so Cole, page 460). The parentheses in New International Version around this sentence are likely to suggest to some readers that its information is unimportant, so it is better not to use them.

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 .