The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic 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: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)
The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)
American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here).
In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:
The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).
Even at the time of his translation, Jerome likely was not the only one making that decision as this recent article alludes to.
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).
Verses 46-49 summarize the registration of all the Levite clans.
All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered …: Numbered renders the Hebrew verb paqad both times (see 1.3), so it is better translated “enrolled” (New Revised Standard Version) or “recorded” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For leaders see verse 34.
By their families and fathers’ houses: See verse 34.
From thirty years old up to fifty years old: See verse 35.
Every one that could enter to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting: See verse 35. To do the work of service is literally “to serve the service of service.” The Hebrew verb for “serve” (ʿabad) and both occurrences of the noun for “service” (ʿabodah) come from the same root. This verb plus cognate noun construction emphasizes the activity of service (compare 3.7). Bearing burdens renders the Hebrew word massaʾ (see verse 15).
Those who were numbered of them were eight thousand five hundred and eighty: The total number of Levites registered for service in the Tabernacle was 8,580. For numbered see above.
Verse 49 begins with the phrase According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses (literally “Upon the mouth of the LORD … by the hand of Moses”; see verse 37) and ends with the synonymous expression as the LORD commanded Moses. This boundary-marking inclusio stresses the divine authority behind the enrolment made by Moses, which is the main idea of this final verse in the concluding paragraph.
They were appointed: Appointed renders the Hebrew word paqad (see 1.3), which is better rendered “recorded” (New Living Translation).
Each to his task of serving or carrying is literally “a man a man on his service and on his load/burden.” The Hebrew word for each is actually repeated, which justifies translations such as “man by man” (Buber) and “one by one” (Revised English Bible). Carrying renders the Hebrew word massaʾ (see verse 15).
Thus they were numbered by him: Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint here, which emends the Hebrew text. Most modern versions do the same; for example, New Revised Standard Version has “thus they were enrolled by him.” The Hebrew is literally “and his enrolled men,” which makes no clear sense in the context.
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 .