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 38:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 38:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “(He) made four rings at all the four corners of the altar at chest height (halfway up).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They made four bronze rings around it to insert the carrying poles.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also made four bronze seemingly-rings and connected/attached it to the four corners of the bronze grill/grating. This seemingly rings is the things-to-insert-through the poles which is-for carrying the altar.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And he made bras ring-handles also and then affixed those ring-handles onto the four corners of the bras grate. Those ring-handles were for the insertion of poles for carrying the bras grate.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “They pound its corner at its four it be bored hole for its carry-wood.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They made bronze rings in which to put the poles for carrying the altar, and fastened one of them to each of the corners of the altar.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 38:4 - 38:5

These verses combine the information in 27.4-5 in different order. The verbs he made and He cast are again in past tense to show that the work was completed. For the altar replaces “for it” in 27.4. Under its ledge, extending halfway down uses the same words as 27.5, but this is mentioned before the reference to the four rings. (See the comment there on the meaning of ledge and halfway down.)

He cast four rings uses the same verb used in 25.12, which is more specific than the verb “to make” in 27.4. This suggests that the metal was melted and poured into a mold. It is not stated here what metal was used for these rings, but we know from 27.4 that it was bronze instead of gold. On the four corners is a bit confusing. Literally it says “in the four extremities,” which here refers to corners. But to say that he cast these rings on the four corners evidently means, as Good News Translation expresses it “he made four carrying rings and put them on the four corners.” Contemporary English Version is a little more precise: “Then he attached a bronze ring beneath the ledge at the four corners to put the poles through.”

As holders for the poles, literally “in houses for the poles,” is not used in 27.4, but the expression is used in 25.27 and 30.4.

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 .