Levite

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: 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 .

complete verse (Numbers 7:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 7:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Accept these things that have been given for doing the work of my Tent. Give (them) to the people of the clan of Levi according to the work that those people are doing.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You are to take these oxen and [these] large carts from them to use in the work of the Tent of Meeting. Then distribute them to the Levites in accordance with the work that they do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Accept their offering in-order to-be-used for the works in the Tent Meeting-Together-Place. Give these to the descendants of Levi according to their own/[lit. each] work/task.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Accept these gifts, in order that the descendants of Levi can use them for carrying the sacred items that are here at the Sacred Tent.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 7:4 - 7:5

Then the LORD said to Moses: The conjunction Then introduces God’s response to the gifts of the Israelite leaders. For the LORD said to Moses, see 1.1.

Accept these from them: Revised Standard Version adds the implied demonstrative pronoun these, which refers to the wagons and oxen. Good News Translation makes the referent for this pronoun clear by saying “these gifts,” which other languages may find helpful. Another possible rendering is “these offerings.” The pronoun them refers to the Israelite leaders mentioned in verse 2, which New Century Version makes clear by saying “the leaders.”

That they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting: Doing the service renders the Hebrew verb ʿabad and the noun ʿabodah, which come from the same root (see the comments on 3.7). Both these words occur frequently in chapter 4, where different tasks were given to the different Levite clans. The service of the tent of meeting refers to the Levites’ work at the Tabernacle. For the tent of meeting, see 1.1.

And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service: The LORD instructs Moses to give the wagons and oxen to the Levites for their work of transporting the Tabernacle objects. New International Version renders to each man according to his service as “as each man’s work requires.” However, since groups rather than individuals were actually involved with these Tabernacle tasks, perhaps a better rendering is “to each group according to its assigned service/task/work.”

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 .