hin

The weight measure that is translated as “hin” or with a modern equivalent in English is translated in the 1989 Tsonga BIBELE 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. )

offering

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)

See also offering (qorban).

fat, oil

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)

complete verse (Numbers 28:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 28:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “With both of those you shall add finely ground wheat flour of one two-liter container. Mix that flour with olive oil of one liter.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Along with it, the grain offering that must be offered — 1/10 ephah of good wheat flour [on which] 1/4 hin of good olive oil has been mixed — must be offered.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “including the gift offering which is two kilos of flour which is of good kind and mixed with one liter of cooking-oil from olive which was-pounded.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They must also bring an offering of grain, consisting of two quarts/liters of finely-ground flour, mixed with a quart of olive oil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 28:5

Also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a cereal offering: There had to be a grain offering with each daily burnt offering. For a tenth of an ephah, see Num 5.15; for fine flour, see 6.15; and for cereal offering, see 4.16.

Mixed with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil: Olive oil had to be mixed with the fine flour of the grain offering. For a fourth of a hin, see 15.4-5. Beaten oil refers to olive oil that was produced by pounding the olives in a mortar with a pestle rather than by crushing them in an oil press. This process produced pure olive oil that did not contain pieces of crushed olive pits, so Good News Translation says “the best olive oil.”

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 .