family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

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 35:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 35:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Go and stand where it has been assigned for you in the Home of God following your houses and assist the people that you have been given to assist when they come to make sacrifices.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then be standing in the holy place group by group to help each family. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] positioned in the temple according to your group, and [you (plur.)] help the families who is-offering, who were-entrusted to you.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then stand in the temple, with one group of the descendants of Levi to help each clan of the people when they bring their offerings to the temple.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 35:5

And stand in the holy place … the lay people …: The Levites were to position themselves in such a way as to be able to help every Israelite family. The Hebrew text of this verse is somewhat obscure. Holy place is literally “the holy.” Does this refer to the entire Temple area, including the courtyards, or does it refer only to the central room of the Temple in front of the Most Holy Place? The lay people is literally “the sons of the people.” This expression refers to all the people of Israel who were not priests or Levites. It may be translated “the ordinary Israelites,” “your relatives who are not priests or Levites,” or simply “the common people” (New American Bible, An American Translation). The same expression is used again in verses 7, 12 and 13.

The most likely meaning of this verse in simplified form is reflected in the Contemporary English Version rendering, which is “Divide yourselves into groups, then arrange yourselves throughout the temple so that each family of worshipers will be able to get help from one of you.” Moffatt translates “stand in the sacred place with some of each Levitical family, to serve each group of families among your kinsmen the laity.”

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 .