priest

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are typically translated as “priest” in English (itself deriving from Latin “presbyter” — “elder”) is often translated with a consideration of existing religious traditions. (Click or tap for details)

Bratcher / Nida (1961) say this:

“However, rather than borrow local names for priests, some of which have unwanted connotations, a number of translations have employed descriptive phrases based on certain functions: (1) those describing a ceremonial activity: Pamona uses tadu, the priestess who recites the litanies in which she describes her journey to the upper or under-world to fetch life-spirit for sick people, animals or plants; Batak Toba uses the Arabic malim, ‘Muslim religious teacher;’ ‘one who presents man’s sacrifice to God’ (Bambara, Eastern Maninkakan), ‘one who presents sacrifices’ (Baoulé, Navajo (Dinė)), ‘one who takes the name of the sacrifice’ (Kpelle, and ‘to make a sacrifice go out’ (Hausa); (2) those describing an intermediary function: ‘one who speaks to God’ (Shipibo-Conibo) and ‘spokesman of the people before God’ (Tabasco Chontal).”

In Obolo it is translated as ogwu ngwugwa or “the one who offers sacrifice” (source: Enene Enene), in Mairasi as agam aevar nevwerai: “religious leader” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Ignaciano as “blesser, one who does ritual as a practice” (using a generic term rather than the otherwise common Spanish loan word sacerdote) (source: Willis Ott in Notes on Translation 88/1982, p. 18ff.), and in Noongar as yakin-kooranyi or “holy worker” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

For Guhu-Samane, Ernest Richert (in The Bible Translator, 1965, p. 81ff. ) reports this: “The [local] cult of Poro used to be an all-encompassing religious system that essentially governed all areas of life. (…) For ‘priest’ the term ‘poro father’ would at first seem to be a natural choice. However, several priests of the old cult are still living. Although they no longer function primarily as priests of the old system they still have a substantial influence on the community, and there would be more than a chance that the unqualified term would (in some contexts particularly) be equated with the priest of the poro cult. We learned, then, that the poro fathers would sometimes be called ‘knife men’ in relation to their sacrificial work. The panel was pleased to apply this term to the Jewish priest, and the Christian community has adopted it fully. [Mark 1:44, for instance, now] reads: ‘You must definitely not tell any man of this. But you go show your body to the knife man and do what Moses said about a sacrifice concerning your being healed, and the cause (base of this) will be apparent.'”

For a revision of the 1968 version of the Bible in Khmer Joseph Hong (in: The Bible Translator 1996, 233ff. ) talks about a change in wording for this term:

​​Bau cha r (បូជា‌ចារ្យ) — The use of this new construction meaning “priest” is maintained to translate the Greek word hiereus. The term “mean sang (មាន សង្ឃ)” used in the old version actually means a “Buddhist monk,” and is felt to be theologically misleading. The Khmer considers the Buddhist monk as a “paddy field of merits,” a reserve of merits to be shared with other people. So a Khmer reader would find unthinkable that the mean sang in the Bible killed animals, the gravest sin for a Buddhist; and what a scandal it would be to say that a mean sang was married, had children, and drank wine.

See also idolatrous priests.

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 (2 Chronicles 31:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 31:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “And again, Hezekiah told the people of Jerusalem to take the obligatory portion for the priests and Levites and to give (them) out so that (they) could commit themselves well to their work according to the law of God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The king gave the order for people living in Jerusalem to give a share to the priests and Levites so that the priests and Levites might be able to concentrate on doing [lit.: might give their minds to] the work of the law of the LORD.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He also commanded the people who live in Jerusalem to give the share of the priests and Levites so-that they can serve entirely to the Law of the LORD.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Hezekiah told the people living in Jerusalem to give to the priests and the other descendants of Levi the portions of meat that should be given to them, in order that they could devote all their time to obeying the laws of Yahweh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 31:4

And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem: The common Hebrew conjunction rendered And may be omitted (so Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or it may be taken as a simple connecting word indicating the continuation of the story. The Hebrew verb translated commanded is the ordinary word meaning “to say” or “to tell.” But in some languages this context will require a stronger word such as commanded or “ordered” (Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “requested,” but this verb seems too weak here.

To give the portion due to the priests and the Levites: See Num 18 for the laws regarding what was due the priests and Levites. In some languages this clause may be expressed as “to provide the supplies for the priests and the Levites” (Moffatt) or “to give provisions to….”

That they might give themselves to the law of the LORD: The antecedent of the pronoun they is the priests and the Levites, not the people. This clause gives the reason why the ordinary citizens of Jerusalem had to give provisions to the priests and Levites. They had to do it so that the priests and Levites could do what the Law required them to do. The Hebrew verb translated give themselves comes from the root meaning “to be strong,” that is, “that they might be strong in the law….” The verb seems to refer to total commitment here. For this reason some translations add the word “entirely” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible). For this whole clause La Bible du Semeur says “so that they might consecrate themselves to the tasks that are prescribed to them in the Law of the Eternal.” Another possible model is “that they might devote themselves to doing what the Law of the LORD commands.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .