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 (2 Chronicles 3:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 3:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “He placed those cherubs standing together looking towards the Outer room. The wings of those cherubs had a length of thirty feet when they both met together, and one wing of each of those cherubs had a length of seven and a half feet. One of the wings of each of those cherubs touched the wall and the other wing touched the wing of the other cherub.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A cherub’s wingspan is 9 meters. [Lit.: A cherub’s wings spread out to 9 meters.] They were standing on their feet. Their faces were looking inward.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Each kerubin/cherubim has two wings, and each wing has a length of seven and a half feet. So the entire length of the spreading wings of the two cherubim is 30 feet. Their other wing(s) are-touching-each-other and their other wing(s) are-touching the wall(s).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “It was 30 feet from the outer wing of the one statue to the outer wing of the other statue. The statues faced the doorway to the main room.” (Source: Translation for Translators)