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 (Exodus 26:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 26:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Each frame should have a length of fifteen feet and width of two feet and three inches together with” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “All planks must be of ten cubits long and one and a half wide.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The length of each frame is (to be) 15 feet and the width is (to be) two feet.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “The length of each of the studs will amount to two and a half fathoms. And the length of the cross-pieces between each of the studs will extend to 27 inches (lit. to our[incl] armpit).” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Wood which you will build, its height let it be joint of hand which be ten, and width of the one, let it be joint of hand one and a half.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Each frame is to be five yards/four meters long and 27 in./66 cm. wide.” (Source: Translation for Translators)