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.

offering

The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”

In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)

See also offering (qorban).

hin

The weight measure that is translated as “hin” or with a modern equivalent in English is translated in the 1989 Tsonga BIBELE Mahungu Lamanene into a measurement of what a traditional container can hold rather than weight: “two pots” for water, wine and milk or “2 calabashes” for oil. (Source: The Bible Translator 1998, p. 215ff. )

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 (Numbers 15:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 15:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who is giving a young sheep or goat must also give to God a two-liter container of finely ground flour which has been mixed with one liter of olive oil. One liter of wine is also to be poured out for God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “the one who sacrifices the offering must offer a grain offering of 1/10 ephah of good wheat flour [on which] 1/4 hin of olive oil has been mixed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The one who will-offer a young sheep as burnt offering for me will- also -offer gift offering. This gift offering must be two kilos of flour of fine/good kind and mixed with one liter cooking-oil. And still go-with drink offering which is one liter of wine.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When you give these offerings, you must also bring to me a grain offering of two quarts/liters of nice flour mixed with one quart/liter of olive oil.” (Source: Translation for Translators)