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
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)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Benjamin” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wolf,” referring to Genesis 49:27. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 11:36:
Kupsabiny: “Other/some Levites who lived in the community/province of Judah were relocated to go and settle/live among the clan of Benjamin.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The rest of the Levites who lived in Juda were-caused-to-live with the people of Benjamin.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Some of the groups of the descendants of Levi who had lived in Judea were sent to live with the people of the tribe of Benjamin.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some Levites who lived in Judah “were assigned” (so Good News Translation) to live among the tribe of Benjamin, possibly to collect the tithes and Temple taxes. A few Syriac and Vulgate manuscripts plus one Septuagint manuscript have “And among the Levites, sections [belonged] to Judah and to Benjamin,” which would mean the Levites lived in the villages of both areas (so New Jerusalem Bible, Luther). But Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives the Hebrew text a B rating with the translation “and among the Levites, [certain] sections of Judah [went] to Benjamin,” and is recommended to translators.
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 .
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