Nehemiah

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Nehemiah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “builder” referring to Nehemiah leading the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Nehemiah” 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 .

More information on Nehemiah .

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 .

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

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 Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

Zerubbabel

The name that is transliterated as “Zerubbabel” or “Shealtiel” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “begotten” (the name means “begotten in Babylon”) and a reference that he led the first group that left the city of Babylon to build the second Temple in Jerusalem (see Ezra 3:8). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Zerubbabel” in Libras (source )

More information under Zerubbabel .

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

complete verse (Nehemiah 12:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 12:47:

  • Kupsabiny: “So all the people of Israel donated things that would cater for the singers and gate keepers together with the Levites from the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah. Those people would bring that food for all those days. Then the Levites too would take one out of ten percent of that food and distribute to the priests of the house/family of Aaron.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore during the time of Zerubabel and Nehemiah, all the Israelinhon gave their offerings for the singers and guards of the entrance/gates of the temple, and for the Levites also. And the Levites also shared to the priests who were descendants of Aaron from what they had-received.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “During the years that Zerubbabel and I governed the Israeli people, they all contributed the food that the singers and temple gatekeepers needed each day. They gave a tithe/10% of their crops to the descendants of Levi who helped the priests, and those descendants of Levi gave a tithe/10% of that to the priests, who were descendants of Aaron the first Supreme Priest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 12:47

This verse gives a general description of the arrangements for providing for the singers, gatekeepers, Levites, and priests. All Israel was involved in fulfilling these arrangements. This may be expressed more fully as “the whole of Israel” (Jerusalem Bible), or its meaning may be stated explicitly as in Good News Translation.

In the days of occurs twice in this verse. This is consistent with the author’s emphasis on time. The use of this expression with the names of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah separately may suggest that the author considered the times of the two men to be separate. Note that in the preceding verse this phrase is used for David and Asaph together and they were contemporaries. Translators should not combine this phrase into one expression as in Contemporary English Version, but should indicate two time references as Good News Translation has done (also Bible en français courant, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Zerubbabel and Nehemiah are the two official governors of Judah mentioned during the time period that is covered in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Citing the names of these two governors indicates that these arrangements were in practice during this period. Good News Translation therefore says “In the time of” instead of the literal translation of Revised Standard Version. Some translators may wish to say “During the times when Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were governors.”

For daily the Hebrew says literally “matter of day in its day.” See the comment on “as every day required” at Neh 11.23.

They set apart is from the Hebrew root meaning “to sanctify,” that is, to dedicate something for sacred use. This refers to the portions (see verse 44 above). These were not gifts of food that were voluntarily shared with the needy during celebrations as in Neh 8.10. Instead, these were contributions that were required as part of everyone’s religious duties. Good News Translation therefore calls the contributions “a sacred offering,” Jerusalem Bible refers to them as “sacred dues,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “dedicated contributions.” They refers back to all Israel.

The sons of Aaron is a designation for the priests. The Levites collected a tithe from the people, and a tenth of this tithe, that is a tithe of the tithe, was destined for the priests (see Neh 10.38).

Good News Translation may serve as a good model for a clear translation of this verse.

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 .