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 4:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 41:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “The place/space of the entrance had a width of eighteen feet. The jambs on this and that side had a thickness which could reach nine feet. He also measured that room inside and found that it had a length of seventy feet and a width of thirty-five feet.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and had a thickness of eight feet. The width of the way was 17 feet. He also measured the Holy Place, and its length was 68 feet and 34 feet the width.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The entrance was 17-1/2 feet/5.3 meters wide, and the walls of each side of it were 8-3/4 feet/2.6 meters wide. He also measured the Holy Place, it was 70 feet/21.4 meters long and 35 feet/10.7 meters wide.” (Source: Translation for Translators)