priest

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are typically translated as “priest” in English (itself deriving from Latin “presbyter” — “elder”) is often translated with a consideration of existing religious traditions. (Click or tap for details)

Bratcher / Nida (1961) say this:

“However, rather than borrow local names for priests, some of which have unwanted connotations, a number of translations have employed descriptive phrases based on certain functions: (1) those describing a ceremonial activity: Pamona uses tadu, the priestess who recites the litanies in which she describes her journey to the upper or under-world to fetch life-spirit for sick people, animals or plants; Batak Toba uses the Arabic malim, ‘Muslim religious teacher;’ ‘one who presents man’s sacrifice to God’ (Bambara, Eastern Maninkakan), ‘one who presents sacrifices’ (Baoulé, Navajo (Dinė)), ‘one who takes the name of the sacrifice’ (Kpelle, and ‘to make a sacrifice go out’ (Hausa); (2) those describing an intermediary function: ‘one who speaks to God’ (Shipibo-Conibo) and ‘spokesman of the people before God’ (Tabasco Chontal).”

In Obolo it is translated as ogwu ngwugwa or “the one who offers sacrifice” (source: Enene Enene), in Mairasi as agam aevar nevwerai: “religious leader” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Ignaciano as “blesser, one who does ritual as a practice” (using a generic term rather than the otherwise common Spanish loan word sacerdote) (source: Willis Ott in Notes on Translation 88/1982, p. 18ff.), and in Noongar as yakin-kooranyi or “holy worker” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

For Guhu-Samane, Ernest Richert (in The Bible Translator, 1965, p. 81ff. ) reports this: “The [local] cult of Poro used to be an all-encompassing religious system that essentially governed all areas of life. (…) For ‘priest’ the term ‘poro father’ would at first seem to be a natural choice. However, several priests of the old cult are still living. Although they no longer function primarily as priests of the old system they still have a substantial influence on the community, and there would be more than a chance that the unqualified term would (in some contexts particularly) be equated with the priest of the poro cult. We learned, then, that the poro fathers would sometimes be called ‘knife men’ in relation to their sacrificial work. The panel was pleased to apply this term to the Jewish priest, and the Christian community has adopted it fully. [Mark 1:44, for instance, now] reads: ‘You must definitely not tell any man of this. But you go show your body to the knife man and do what Moses said about a sacrifice concerning your being healed, and the cause (base of this) will be apparent.'”

For a revision of the 1968 version of the Bible in Khmer Joseph Hong (in: The Bible Translator 1996, 233ff. ) talks about a change in wording for this term:

​​Bau cha r (បូជា‌ចារ្យ) — The use of this new construction meaning “priest” is maintained to translate the Greek word hiereus. The term “mean sang (មាន សង្ឃ)” used in the old version actually means a “Buddhist monk,” and is felt to be theologically misleading. The Khmer considers the Buddhist monk as a “paddy field of merits,” a reserve of merits to be shared with other people. So a Khmer reader would find unthinkable that the mean sang in the Bible killed animals, the gravest sin for a Buddhist; and what a scandal it would be to say that a mean sang was married, had children, and drank wine.

See also idolatrous priests.

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 .

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

complete verse (Nehemiah 11:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 11:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Some other priests and Levites together with other people of Israel went and lived in their houses in the places which had been given to them in all villages of Judah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The rest of the Israelinhon, as-well-as the priests and the Levites, lived in the land which they inherited from their ancestors in various towns of Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The other Israeli people including priests and other descendants of Levi lived on their own property in other towns and cities in Judea.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 11:20

This verse is parenthetical, again drawing attention to the fact that not everyone lived in Jerusalem, including priests and Levites. The Hebrew text does not have and between Israel and priests or between priests and Levites, so the latter two words could be translated “Levitical priests.” It is recommended that the and be included in the translation. Some consider the words and of the priests and the Levites to be a scribal addition and omit them (see Revised English Bible), but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives the Hebrew text with the inclusion of these words a B rating. New Jerusalem Bible and Contemporary Chinese Bible move this verse to follow verse 24, on the grounds that verses 21-24 have been inserted into the text. However, it is preferable for the translator not to transpose verses, but rather to use a footnote for explanation. The footnote might read as follows: “Some people believe that verse 20 is out of place here and they move it after verse 24, but it should remain here where it is found in the Hebrew text.”

Every one in his inheritance: Inheritance is a key term in the Old Testament. The basic meaning of this word is property that one receives from an ancestor or from someone who has died. It is received by right or through a will. In the Old Testament it is frequently used of the land of Canaan that God promised to give to his people as a possession. Here it refers to the land possessed by individual people. The phrase every one in his inheritance is equivalent to “every one lived on his property in their towns” in verse 3 above. But the word inheritance also evokes the theme of the inalienable right of a man or woman to the land that God has given and that they have inherited (see Gen 31.14; Num 27.6-11). Some translations render the Hebrew literally with the term “inheritance” (New American Standard Bible, Darby), but some include both the concept of inheriting and of property, for example, “inherited property” (Revised English Bible), “ancestral property” (New International Version), and “patrimony” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Translators should follow these models of rendering the twin concepts of inheriting and of property.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .