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 4:40)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 4:40:

  • Kupsabiny:

    So, Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the clans counted the people as God has told them. The three houses that hailed from the clan of Levi were counted according to their houses. Those were: House of Kohath, Gershon and Merari. The men who had thirty years up to fifty were counted so they could work in the Tent of God. The list was like this:

    House Counting
    Kohath 2,750
    Gershon 2,630
    Merari 3,200
    Total number 8,580

    (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)

  • Newari: “Having put them all together clan by clan and family by family, there were 2,630 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:

    To follow the command of the LORD, Moises, Aaron and the leaders of the community of Israel census the descendants of Kohat, Gershon, and Merari according to their relatives and families. They counted all the men that ages from 30 to 50 years old who were able to serve the Meeting-Together-Place, and these are their number:

    Family Number
    Kohat 2,750
    Gershon 2,630
    Merari 3,200

    The total of their number, 8,580 all.

    (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

  • English: “The total was 2,630 men.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

    • Translation commentary on Numbers 4:38 - 4:41

    Verses 38-41 deal with the registration of the Gershonite clans. These verses are very similar to verses 34-37 (see the comments there). The slight variations should be kept if possible; for example, in verse 40 the text has their number by their families and their fathers’ houses, but simply “their number by families” in verses 36 and 44. Also, verse 41 does not end with “by Moses,” as verses 37 and 45 do.

    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 .