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 .

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 7:11

Not all of the returned captives were purified, but the Levites were all purified together: The Greek text of this verse is in a bad state of repair, and it is impossible to be certain of the original text. New English Bible renders this verse as “not all the returned exiles were purified with the priests, but the Levites were.” Along with New English Bible, we interpret it to mean that when the priests purified themselves (verse 10), some, or perhaps none, of the other Jews, did not do so, except for the Levites, who all did. So interpreted, this verse is best presented as a parenthetical statement. A model that does this is:

• (Not all the Jews who returned from exile purified themselves at this time, but all the Levites did.)*
* Verse 11 in Greek is unclear.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.