priest

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are typically translated as “priest” in English (itself deriving from Latin “presbyter” — “elder”) is often translated with a consideration of existing religious traditions. (Click or tap for details)

Bratcher / Nida (1961) say this:

“However, rather than borrow local names for priests, some of which have unwanted connotations, a number of translations have employed descriptive phrases based on certain functions: (1) those describing a ceremonial activity: Pamona uses tadu, the priestess who recites the litanies in which she describes her journey to the upper or under-world to fetch life-spirit for sick people, animals or plants; Batak Toba uses the Arabic malim, ‘Muslim religious teacher;’ ‘one who presents man’s sacrifice to God’ (Bambara, Eastern Maninkakan), ‘one who presents sacrifices’ (Baoulé, Navajo (Dinė)), ‘one who takes the name of the sacrifice’ (Kpelle, and ‘to make a sacrifice go out’ (Hausa); (2) those describing an intermediary function: ‘one who speaks to God’ (Shipibo-Conibo) and ‘spokesman of the people before God’ (Tabasco Chontal).”

In Obolo it is translated as ogwu ngwugwa or “the one who offers sacrifice” (source: Enene Enene), in Mairasi as agam aevar nevwerai: “religious leader” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Ignaciano as “blesser, one who does ritual as a practice” (using a generic term rather than the otherwise common Spanish loan word sacerdote) (source: Willis Ott in Notes on Translation 88/1982, p. 18ff.), and in Noongar as yakin-kooranyi or “holy worker” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

For Guhu-Samane, Ernest Richert (in The Bible Translator, 1965, p. 81ff. ) reports this: “The [local] cult of Poro used to be an all-encompassing religious system that essentially governed all areas of life. (…) For ‘priest’ the term ‘poro father’ would at first seem to be a natural choice. However, several priests of the old cult are still living. Although they no longer function primarily as priests of the old system they still have a substantial influence on the community, and there would be more than a chance that the unqualified term would (in some contexts particularly) be equated with the priest of the poro cult. We learned, then, that the poro fathers would sometimes be called ‘knife men’ in relation to their sacrificial work. The panel was pleased to apply this term to the Jewish priest, and the Christian community has adopted it fully. [Mark 1:44, for instance, now] reads: ‘You must definitely not tell any man of this. But you go show your body to the knife man and do what Moses said about a sacrifice concerning your being healed, and the cause (base of this) will be apparent.'”

For a revision of the 1968 version of the Bible in Khmer Joseph Hong (in: The Bible Translator 1996, 233ff. ) talks about a change in wording for this term:

​​Bau cha r (បូជា‌ចារ្យ) — The use of this new construction meaning “priest” is maintained to translate the Greek word hiereus. The term “mean sang (មាន សង្ឃ)” used in the old version actually means a “Buddhist monk,” and is felt to be theologically misleading. The Khmer considers the Buddhist monk as a “paddy field of merits,” a reserve of merits to be shared with other people. So a Khmer reader would find unthinkable that the mean sang in the Bible killed animals, the gravest sin for a Buddhist; and what a scandal it would be to say that a mean sang was married, had children, and drank wine.

See also idolatrous priests.

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 31:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 31:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “the clothes of honor of priests which Aaron and his sons put on during work,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The weave garments, the sacred garments of Aaron and wearing garments of his sons when they serve as priest,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the beautiful and holy clothing/garments of Aaron and his children/(sons) that they wear when they serve as priests,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “and the upright decorations for offerings for Aron and his male children,” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “and clothes of head of priests namely Aaron, and clothes of his children who be priests also,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “all the beautiful sacred clothes for Aaron and his sons to wear when they work as priests,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 31:10 - 31:11

And the finely worked garments is literally “and clothes of serad.” These are obviously the “vestments” (New Revised Standard Version) described in chapter 28, but the meaning of serad is uncertain. It is used only here, in 35.19, and in 39.1 and 41. Some of the ancient versions translated it as “service vestments” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), but some scholars believe the word has the basic meaning of “braided” or “woven.” Various possibilities are “liturgical vestments” (New Jerusalem Bible), “stitched vestments” (Revised English Bible), “embroidered vestments” (Translator’s Old Testament), or simply “magnificent priestly garments” (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version has “the beautiful priestly clothes,” which may be translated as “the beautiful clothes for the priests to wear.”

The holy garments for Aaron the priest begins with waw (“and”) in the Hebrew. This seems to suggest that these are different from the finely worked garments. However, these holy garments should be understood as included within the broader term of finely worked garments, along with the garments of his sons. Revised English Bible makes this clear by translating the “and” as “that is”: “that is the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest and the vestments for his sons.” (See the comment on holy garments at 28.2.) Good News Translation combines all three phrases into one, “the magnificent priestly garments for Aaron and his sons.”

For their service as priests is just one word, literally “to priest.” The same expression is used in 28.1. (See the comment there.)

The anointing oil is described in 30.23-25. The fragrant incense, first mentioned in 25.6, uses the same word for fragrant that is translated as “sweet spices” in 30.34. Good News Translation has “sweet-smelling incense.” For the holy place is literally “for the holy.” (See the comment at 26.33.)

According to all that I have commanded you uses the singular you. They shall do uses the word that also means “make,” so New International Version has “They are to make them just as I commanded you,” referring, or course, to all the things mentioned in verses 7-11.

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 .