Levite

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

More information about Levites .

complete verse (Joshua 21:41)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 21:41:

  • Kupsabiny: “In all the land that the people of Israel got, the clan of Levi, were granted forty-eight cities together with where one could graze (animals).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A total of forty-eight cities along with grazing land for their cattle were given to the Descendants of Levi by the Israelites from the land they possessed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “48 towns/cities (in)-all, including each of their pasturelands, (were) what the descendants of Levi received from the land that the Israelinhon possessed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So altogether 48 cities were allotted to the tribe of Levi,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 21:41 - 21:43

These verses conclude the section. The Hebrew text is quite repetitious (see Revised Standard Version); Good News Translation has reduced the number of words without omitting any information, but one may also translate “The Levites received from the other tribes of Israel a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasture lands around them.” Or “The other tribes of Israel gave to the tribe of Levi a total of forty-eight cities, with the pasture lands around them.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .