fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Leviticus 4:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 4:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “He shall also take the kidneys and their fat and the side of the liver where there is fat” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He must take out the two kidneys along with the fat near the loins, as well as the membrane covering the kidneys and best part of the liver.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the kidneys/[lit. little-stones] including all their fat[s], and the small part of the liver.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “the kidneys and the fat that is attached to them near the lower back muscle, and the fat that covers the liver.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 4:8 - 4:10

As indicated in 10a, these verses describe a ritual which corresponds to what is done in the fellowship offering described in 3.3-4. Translators should make sure that verse 10a refers to what precedes and not to what follows. One dynamic translation of this passage is as follows: “these are the same parts as those taken from the animal presented in the fellowship offering.” Another has shifted the parenthetical information in 10a to verse 8, beginning this section with the words “Just as he did with the bull given as a fellowship offering, he shall take the fat….”

The ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings: the word translated ox by Revised Standard Version refers to any animal of the bovine species whether young or old, male or female. In order to clarify the meaning of the first preposition of in this phrase, it may be better to translate “the ox (or, bull) offered to God as a peace (or, fellowship) offering.” It is also possible to translate by a more general term such as “animal” (see Good News Translation).

The priest: since the person referred to here is still the High Priest (see verses 3 and 5), it is often advisable to make this clear in translation. The word priest may be wrongly understood to mean any one of the priests.

The altar of burnt offering: or the altar of sacrifice. See verse 7.

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 .