sell

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sell” in English is translated in Noongar as wort-bangal or “away-barter.” Note that “buy” is translated as bangal-barranga or “get-barter.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)

See also buy and buying / selling.

family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

complete verse (Leviticus 25:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 25:47:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person of Israel may become so poor that he sells his life to a person who is a foreigner who is wealthy.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’Suppose it happens that a person who came from outside to live in your place becomes rich, and brothers who live in your land, having become poor, if they sell themselves into his hand, ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a poor Israelite sells himself/[his own self] as a slave to a rich foreigner who is-living among you (plur.) or to the blood-relative of that foreigner,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If a foreigner who is living among you becomes rich, and if one of your fellow Israelis becomes poor and sells himself to that foreigner or to a member of his clan/family,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 25:47

This verse begins a new paragraph dealing with a prosperous foreigner living in the land of Israel. Since it is a hypothetical consideration, Good News Translation begins with the word “Suppose” as a translation of If. Another way of saying this in some languages is “Let us say that….” This formula may also serve to make more explicit the fact that this person is living among the people of Israel.

Becomes rich: this is more than the opposite of “becomes poor” in verse 35 and later in this same verse. In this case the foreigner has more than enough to take care of himself. He becomes sufficiently wealthy to buy slaves. It may have to be translated “earns a great deal of money.”

Beside him: this probably carries the idea “in the same area” or “living near him.” But in many languages this will be understood without being made explicit in the translation.

With you … with you: see verses 35 and 36.

Member: the corresponding Hebrew word is found only here in all the Old Testament. Consequently its meaning is not absolutely certain. It probably comes from a word meaning “root” or “origin.” Both Moffatt and New American Bible take it to mean “descendant.” And New Jerusalem Bible translates it “an offshoot.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .