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 .

Ezra

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Ezra” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “scribe” referring to Ezra’s profession. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ezra” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts the return from Babylon to Jerusalem and toward God.


“Ezra” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Ezra .

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 9:49 - 9:51

Then Attharates said to Ezra the chief priest and reader, and to the Levites who were teaching the multitude, and to all: The Revised Standard Version footnote indicates that the name Attharates can be rendered “the governor.” This is because Attharates is most likely a transliteration into Greek of a Persian title that means “governor.” The author mistook it as a proper name. Compare the parallel passage of Neh 8.9, where “the governor” is mentioned in Hebrew, although he is identified as Nehemiah. We think we are not betraying any translation principle by correcting the author’s error and saying “the governor” (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, New English Bible, Revised English Bible, Myers). For Ezra the chief priest and reader, see verse 39. And to all refers to all the rest of the people who had gathered in Jerusalem. Good News Bible omits this phrase, but it should be kept by saying “to the rest of the crowd” or “to everyone else.”

This day is holy to the Lord: The governor was so moved by the reading of the Law that he declares the day holy. Of course, it was also holy since it was the Festival of Trumpets (see the comments on verse 37b). This clause may be rendered “This day is set apart to honor the Lord,” “This is a special day for the Lord” (Contemporary English Version), or even “This is the Lord’s day.”

They were all weeping as they heard the law: The people were weeping for sorrow, not for joy (compare Neh 8.9), realizing that they had not been living by God’s Law. This clause may be translated “now all the people were crying when they heard the Levites read the Law to them.” It a parenthetical clause that interrupts the governor’s speech, so Revised Standard Version places long dashes around it. It gives background information to explain why the governor said what he did. In many languages it will be better to place this clause earlier in the narrative by combining verses 49-50 (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version; see also the model below).

So go your way may be rendered simply “go home” (Good News Bible).

Eat the fat and drink the sweet: Instead of a day of mourning, it was a day for celebration and rejoicing. The fat refers to the fat of animals, which was considered to be the choicest and best part of the animals to eat. The sweet refers to sweet wine (see Neh 8.10).

And send portions to those who have none: The governor wants the Jews to celebrate the day with a feast, but they must be careful to share with those who do not have the food or wine themselves, since all of them must celebrate this holy day. It was the custom to send portions to one another during festivities (see 1 Sam 1.4).

An alternative model for verses 49-51 is:

• 49-50 The people were now weeping as they listened to the Law. Then the governor said to Ezra, the high priest and scholar, and to the Levites, and to all the other people, “This is a holy day, a day to honor the Lord [or, This day is set apart to honor the Lord]. 51 Go home now. Enjoy a meal of fine meat and sweet wine, but share it with people who don’t have any for themselves.

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.