offering (qorban)

The Hebrew qorbān (קָרְבָּ) originally means “that which is brought near.” Most English Bibles translate it as “offering.” The Hebraic English translation of Everett Fox uses near-offering and likewise the German translation by Buber-Rosenzweig has (the neologism) Darnahung.

See also burnt-offering and offering.

complete verse (Leviticus 7:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 7:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “But if the thing that is offered is what a person has promised or what he has given out of love/accept alone, it should be eaten the day it was given as a sacrifice of if it remains it may be eaten on the next day.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But if the sacrifice is a vow offering or a freewill offering, a sacrifice like that must be eaten the same day. The left-overs, however, may be eaten the following day.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But if the offering which (is) for a good relationship is-to-be-offered by him as an offering to fulfill/obey a vow/promise or a freewill offering, the meat of this is-to-be-eaten on that same very day it is-offered and the remaining-(portion) it may be-eaten the next day.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘However, if your offering is the result of a solemn promise that you made to Yahweh, or if it is an offering that you make voluntarily/without being required to, you are permitted to eat some of the meat on the day it is offered, but anything that is left may be eaten on the next day.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 7:16

But: the contrastive word, But, is used here because the subject matter is slightly different in this paragraph. In contrast with fellowship offerings (peace offerings) given because the offerer is thankful (verses 12-15), here we are concerned with those brought as a freewill offering or in fulfillment of a vow. However, in some languages a word marking the transition to a new subject will be necessary, while in others the beginning of a new paragraph, as in Good News Translation, will be sufficient to indicate the change in subject.

A votive offering … a freewill offering: these two types of offering always go together (see 22.18, 21, 23; 23.38), and the entire phrase may simply indicate “required or voluntary offerings.” The first is the result of a vow or promise made, and the second is due to a spontaneous desire on the part of the worshiper. Some languages may find it more natural to mention voluntary offerings (“offerings from the heart”) before those required by a vow or promise.

On the morrow what remains of it shall be eaten: this is different from the case described in verses 11-15, since in this case leftovers are permitted to be eaten the following day. The words shall be eaten may be interpreted as a strict obligation (compare An American Translation and New American Bible “should be eaten”), but the sense is most probably that the remaining food “may be eaten” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, as well as Good News Translation). And, of course, some languages will have to transform this into an active form such as “they [indefinite] may eat.”

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 .