serve

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)

Levite

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

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

More information about Levites .

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English means “light,” “a mountain of strength,” “to be high.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

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

See also Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Numbers 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 3:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Because I have appointed the clan of Levi to help Aaron and his sons.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Levites are chosen from among all the people of Israel and given by God to Aaron and his descendants, the priests, to serve in the Tent of Meeting as assistants to the priests’.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The descendants of Levites will-be-turned-over to Aaron and to his male children to help them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Appoint them to help Aaron and his two sons. I have chosen them from all the Israeli people to do that.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 3:9

And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons: The conjunction And introduces another instruction concerning the Levites. Give … to may be rendered “assign … to” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “put … at the disposal of” (Bible en français courant).

They are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel: In Hebrew the passive participle rendered given (netunim) is repeated, which justifies the intensive adverb wholly. Although this passive participle is similar to the Hebrew designation or title netinim (literally “those who are given”; rendered “Temple servants” in Ezra 2.43), it is not a designation or title here (in spite of the La Nouvelle Bible Segond rendering “with the title ‘given’ ”). The pronoun him refers to Aaron. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses the pronoun “them,” referring to Aaron and his sons, which fits with the previous sentence. The pronoun him follows Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. The Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch read “me,” which refers to the LORD. These versions probably used the pronoun “me” under the influence of 8.16, where God says about the Levites: “they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel.” But there is no convincing reason to follow these versions here in 3.9. Revised English Bible combines this sentence with the previous one, saying “You are to assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons as especially dedicated to him out of all the Israelites.”

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 .