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.

complete verse (Numbers 26:50)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 26:50:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people from the houses of the clan of Naphtali were 45,400.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These were the clans of Naphtali. Their count was 45,400 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They were the families who came from Naftali; they were 45,400 in all.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They counted 45,400 men from the tribe of Naphtali. They were in clans descended from Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 26:48 - 26:50

This paragraph is about the census of the tribe of Naphtali. 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 Naphtali descended from his sons Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem (see Gen 46.24; 1 Chr 7.13).

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: As in verse 42 (see the comments there), this sentence is quite repetitive, so Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version omit it.

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 .