cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Similarly, in Akoose, the translation is “arm distance.” (Source: Joseph Nkwelle Ngome and Marlie van Rooyen & Jacobus A. Naudé in Communicatio 2009, p. 251ff.)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (source: Don Slager) and in Bariai into leoa or “fathom,” which comprises the distance from a person’s fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched, app. 6 feet (source: Bariai Back Translation).

distance (long / wide / high)

The concepts of distance that are translated in English with “long,” “wide,” and “high/tall” are translated in Kwere with one word: utali. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Ezekiel 40:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 40:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “The gate and that veranda had windows all around like those others. It had a length of eighty-seven and a half feet and a width that would reach up to forty-four.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “There were also windows around the way and the balcony like with the others. The length of the way was 85 feet and its width was 42 and a half feet.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The alcoves and the entry room had narrow windows along the walls, like on the other sides. The length of the outer opening of the entryway to the far end of the entry room was was 87-1/2 feet/26.5 meters and the entryway was 43-3/4 feet/13.3 meters wide.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 40:25

And there were windows round about in it and in its vestibule, like the windows of the others: See verse 16. The windows (or, niches) in the south gatehouse were the same as those in the other gatehouses.

Its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth twenty-five cubits: See verses 13 and 15.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .