Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Exodus 29:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 29:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “after that tie (the) band/rope around the waist for each one. After finishing, dress them with head cloths (turbans) which show that they are to be honored. That is how you are to anoint Aaron and his sons. These people and all their family line are the ones who will be burning for me sacrifices until their grandchildren/descendants.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And tying sashes put turban on them. According to this work the descendants of Aaron must serve as priest forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “turban, and cloth-belt/sash. They will-be-priest until whenever. In this way you (sing.) are-to-ordain Aaron and his children/(sons).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “and their head cloths. And when it’s done then tie their middle’s with their belts. In doing this, you (sing.) will appoint Aron and his children to exist as my people of offerings. And so this family and their children and descendants who will be coming forth later, they will be doing my work of offerings always and forever and on.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “and belt, and turban. Therefore, work of altar will be theirs forever. you shall consecrate them as my priests thus.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Put the sashes/waistbands around their waists and the caps on their heads. That is the ritual by which you are to dedicate them/set them apart to be priests. Aaron and his male descendants must serve me by being priests forever.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 29:8 - 29:9

Then you shall bring his sons, literally “cause his sons to come near [me],” is the same verb as in verse 4. In some languages one must repeat the information from verse 4 and say “Bring Aaron’s sons to the entrance of the sacred tent.” And put coats on them refers to the tunics mentioned in 28.40. They were evidently similar to Aaron’s tunic but less elaborate. Good News Translation‘s “shirts” is misleading.

And you shall gird them with girdles is literally “and you [singular] shall gird them [with] a sash.” Them refers to the sons, of course, but the Hebrew adds the words “Aaron and his sons.” (See the Revised Standard Version footnote.) Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and Good News Translation do not translate these words since they are not found in the Septuagint and probably were not in the earlier Hebrew text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, in fact, recommends omitting these words, preferring the Septuagint to the Hebrew text, with a {B} rating. (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Revised English Bible also omit them.) But New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh includes them: “And gird both Aaron and his sons with sashes” (similarly also New International Version, Translator’s Old Testament, and others).

The textual problem is not an easy one. If the additional words are included, they suggest that a “cap” was placed on top of Aaron’s turban, for the phrase and bind caps on them would have to include Aaron as well as his sons. If the words are omitted, then there is no reference at all to a “sash” being put on Aaron. The “sash” is not included with the vestments in verses 5-6, but 28.39 refers to the “girdle embroidered with needlework” that was to be made especially for Aaron.

New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh resolves the problem by interchanging the clauses and placing the reference to the sashes after the reference to the caps. New International Version makes the same adjustment. It is better, however, to follow the textual decision of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and omit the words, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done. For translations using footnotes it is possible to add a footnote here and say, for example, “The Hebrew Masoretic text repeats the words ‘Aaron and his sons,’ but the earlier Greek text [or, the Septuagint] omits them.”

And bind caps on them refers to the “headdresses” (New Revised Standard Version) mentioned in 28.40 for Aaron’s sons. (See the comment there.) The word for bind suggests the act of tying a turban around the head, but the word for caps is different from the word for Aaron’s turban.

An alternative translation model for verses 8-9a is:

• Next, bring Aaron’s sons to the entrance of the sacred tent and put tunics on them. Then fasten sashes around their waists and tie caps [or, turbans] on their heads.

And the priesthood shall be theirs is literally “and it shall be to them a priesthood.” By a perpetual statute is literally “for an obligation [choq] of long time.” The same expression is used in 28.43. (See the discussion on choq in the introduction to 20.22-26.) The meaning is clear in Good News Translation: “They and their descendants are to serve me as priests forever” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons uses the same idiom as that explained at 28.41. It is not clear from the Hebrew whether the “ordination” is now completed or whether it is still to follow. Revised Standard Version interprets this sentence as a summary of what has just been said, and so “and” is translated as Thus. But New Revised Standard Version and Contemporary English Version translate the “and” as “then,” interpreting it either as a separate act or as a summary of what follows.

Both interpretations are possible, and translations are divided rather evenly. Good News Translation follows Revised Standard Version, making it even more explicit: “That is how you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.” But this is based on the interpretation in 28.41 that both the ordination and the dedication would be included in the act of anointing (so also New American Bible and New International Version).

New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, however, takes the other position and even starts a new paragraph at this point (so also Revised English Bible, Childs, and Durham). This interpretation is supported by verse 35, which indicates that the “ordination” was to continue for seven days. (See the comment there.) In either case the special sacrifices described in the following verses must be understood as part of the entire consecration ceremony.

Alternative translation models following the above interpretations are:

• In this way you will ordain Aaron and his sons. And they and their descendants will always be priests.

Or, as in Contemporary English Version:

• … then ordain them, because they and their descendants will always be priests.

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 .