complete verse (Exodus 28:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 28:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Someone get two onyx stones and engrave the twelve names of Jacob’s sons inside.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Taking two onyxes engrave the names of the sons of Israel in it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Then [you (sing.)] have-(someone)-get two onyx stones and engrave on-them the names of the male children of Jacob.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “‘And also, they must take two oniks stones and then engrave (lit. make cuttings) Iakop’s twelve children’s names onto [them].” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And they must also take gem black two, writing name of male children of Israel there.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “A skilled workman must take two expensive onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the twelve sons of Jacob.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 28:9 - 28:10

And you shall take, with singular you, uses the same word as verse 5 (“they shall receive”). Two onyx stones refers to two cut stones, polished as gems, from onyx, a valuable kind of quartz with milky-white bands alternating with black or another color. So one may translate “a precious stone named ‘onyx,’ ” or possibly “a precious stone of many colors named ‘onyx.’ ” (See the comment on onyx at verses 19-20.) And engrave on them means to write or inscribe on the polished stones by cutting into them with a sharp object. So one may also translate the first part of this verse as “have a skilled workman take two precious stones called ‘onyx,’ and use a sharp instrument to write [or, cut] ….” The names of the sons of Israel refers to “the twelve sons of Jacob” (Good News Translation). (They are listed at Gen 35.23-26.)

Six of their names on the one stone would be the names of the six oldest sons. And the names of the remaining six is literally “and the names of the six left over ones.” On the other stone is literally “on the second stone.” This may be condensed, as Good News Translation has done, without losing any meaning: “with six on one stone and six on the other.” In the order of their birth, literally “as their generations,” means “following the order in which they were born” (Durham).

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 .