bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (Exodus 26:37)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 26:37:

  • Kupsabiny: “Someone prepare for this curtain five pillars made out of acacia wood that are covered with gold and the golden clips/hooks are prepared and after that, someone prepare five things of bronze for those poles/pillars to stand on.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Make five pillars of acacia wood for the curtain. Overlay them with gold. Its hooks must of gold. Then make five bases out of bronze for the five pillars.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then have-(someone)-hang it on gold hooks on the five acacia posts that-are covered with gold. These five post were-inserted into five bronze bases.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Take akas wood and so make five posts for this cloth, and then enwrap them with wide pieces of gol. And when it’s done then affix gol hooks to be for hanging this big cloth. You (pl.) must make these five posts with their bras bases.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And you shall chop white-acacia five for its hanging-wood, apply it with gold red. you shall pound gold red, make crooks head, seal it at its body. Also its planting-holes, you shall pound for it metal red.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “To hold up this curtain, they must make five posts from acacia wood. They must cover them with gold, and fasten gold clasps/fasteners to them. Also they must make a bronze base for each of these posts.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

acacia

The plural form of shittah (shittim) is used sometimes as a place name (see Shittim), which is evidence of the wide distribution of this tree in Sinai and southern Palestine. The acacia referred to in the Bible was of two kinds, the Umbrella Thorn Acacia Acacia tortilis and the Common Acacia Acacia raddiana.

The Acacia tortilis is found in the hot Arabah Valley, whereas the Acacia raddiana tends to be found in cooler conditions throughout Sinai. A third variety (Acacia albida) is found in lowland Israel, the Sharon Plain, and lower Galilee. The common acacia was the only tree available to the Israelites for construction of the Tabernacle.

Both types of acacia are short, reaching 3-5 meters (10-17 feet) tall, but having a wide crown. As members of the Mimosa family, they have sharp spines, finely divided leaves, and tiny pale yellow flowers arranged in drooping bunches. The bean pod they produce is twisted and looped when dry.

Since the acacia is widespread in dry areas of Africa, Arabia, India and Australia, translators in those areas should be able to use a local word. In such languages a local species should be used, especially one that is used for building. Elsewhere, if none of these is available, the translator can transliterate from Hebrew (shittah) or from a major language, for example, sunt or talh (Arabic), akasiya (English/French/Spanish via Latin). West African translators need to beware of confusing “acacia” and “cassia,” a common tree with yellow flowers.

Acacia raddiana, photo by Ray Pritz
Acacia flowers, photo by Gloria Suesss

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 26:37

And you shall make for the screen uses the singular you. Five pillars of acacia uses the same word for pillars as verse 32. Here again they may be referred to as “posts” (Good News Translation), “poles” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “columns” (New American Bible). And overlay them with gold uses the singular “you.” (For overlay see the comment at 25.11.)

Their hooks shall be of gold refers to the same kind of hooks as in verse 32, which here are to be attached to five pillars instead of four. The five bases for these pillars were to be different from those in verse 32. They were to be bases of bronze rather than of silver. (See the comment at 25.12.) They were also to be cast, meaning that the bronze was to be melted and poured into a mold. (See the comment at verse 11.) Since the screen was to be farther away from the ark and the Holy of Holies, a less expensive metal was to be used. (See the introductory comments to chapter 27.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .