complete verse (Exodus 40:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 40:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Someone build a hedge/fence around that courtyard and hang (a/the) curtain at the gate of the courtyard.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then set out the curtain of courtyard and pillars all around. Also hang the curtain at the entrance.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Put/Set-up/Hang the curtains of-the yard/courtyard, that surrounding the Tent, including the curtain of-the entrance of-the yard/courtyard.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And when it’s done then erect the fence which surrounds my shelter, and then hang the cloth for the fence’s opening.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Afterwards, you (sing., imp.) hang cloth of fence and cloth of door.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Hang the curtains that will surround the courtyard, and hang the curtain at its entrance.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 40:8

And you shall set up the court round about is literally “And you [singular] shall place the chatser all around.” As explained at 27.9, the meaning of chatser is “open space,” so this really refers to the “surrounding enclosure” (Good News Translation), or the curtained fence that marked off the open space. Round about really means “on all four sides” (Durham), and should not be understood as circular in shape.

And hang up the screen for the gate of the court is literally “and place the screen for [the] gate of the chatser.” The word for hang up is the same word used in verses 5, 6, and 7, but it is different from the word for set up. It refers to the “curtain” that was to be placed at the “entrance” into the open space (chatser). This is described in 27.16 and 38.18.

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 .