complete verse (Numbers 4:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 4:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “These people shall carry the things that are honored in my Tent.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The work of the Kohathites is to care for the most holy items at the Tent of Meeting. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘The work/duties of the descendants of Kohat in the Meeting-Together-Place Tent is to take-care of the most holy things.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘he work of these descendants of Kohath will be to take care of the sacred items that are used when the people worship at the Sacred Tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 4:4

This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: The Hebrew word for service (ʿabodah) may also be rendered “task” or “responsibility” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). If the target language has a term for service that has some religious or ritual implications, that may be used here, unless the term has unwanted connotative associations with pagan worship practices, or it is too closely associated with one particular religious group or another.

The most holy things (literally “the holy [thing] of the holy [things]”) were the very holy objects that were in or near the Tent of Meeting for which the clans of Kohath were responsible. According to Rashi, the Jewish medieval commentator, this phrase refers to the most holy category of objects. An alternative translation for it is “the most holy” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling) or “that which is the most holy.” (Things is lacking, but implied, in the Hebrew.)

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 .