cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Similarly, in Akoose, the translation is “arm distance.” (Source: Joseph Nkwelle Ngome and Marlie van Rooyen & Jacobus A. Naudé in Communicatio 2009, p. 251ff.)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (source: Don Slager) and in Bariai into leoa or “fathom,” which comprises the distance from a person’s fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched, app. 6 feet (source: Bariai Back Translation).

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (1 Kings 7:35)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 7:35:

  • Kupsabiny: “There was something on the chest of those tables which was made like a leather band around each table. That thing had a width of nine inches.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “[Each] cart had a 23-centimeter-high band on the top. The carts had wood planks on top to give support.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The opening/[lit. lip] of the top of each cart was nine inches wide around. The supports of this and the wall of the cart was already formed together with the cart when it was-being-made.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “There was a nine-inch bronze band around the top of each cart. There were braces attached to the corners of each cart. The bands and the braces were cast in the same mold as the rest of the cart.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 7:35

On the top of the stand there was a round band: The Hebrew word translated a round band may be rendered “a support, circular in shape” (New Jerusalem Bible). New American Bible translates “a raised collar.”

Half a cubit high: While Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have translated this in terms of inches (nine inches), in the metric system the equivalent would be “twenty-five centimeters” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur) or possibly “twenty-two centimeters” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy).

On top of the stand its stays and panels were of one piece with it: The word translated stays here and in the following verse is literally “hands.” But it seems to refer to the same objects that are called “supports” in the previous verse. For were of one piece with it, see the previous verse.

Contemporary English Version combines verses 34-35 as follows:

• Around the top of each stand was a nine-inch strip, and there were four braces* attached to the corners of each stand. The panels and the supports were attached to the stands.
* braces: Or “handles.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .