years (age)

In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).

Norm Mundhenk tells this story:

“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”

In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also advanced in years.

complete verse (Numbers 4:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 4:47:

  • 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: “The ones who came to carry loads and to do work in the Tent of Meeting who were between 30 and 50 years old,” (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: “They/We counted all the men who were between 30 and 50 years old. They were ones who were able to work at the Sacred Tent and who carried the tent and everything that was connected with it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 4:46 - 4:49

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 .