fringe, tzitzvit

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “fringe” or “tzitzit” in many English translations is translated in Uma as “the decorations [lit.: “fruit”] of clothes” (source: Uma Back Translation), in Tenango Otomi as “clothing that reaches the ground” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation) and in Mairasi as “wings of the garments” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

In Bura-Pabir a term is used that is traditionally used for the tassels worn on clothes by hunters. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Paasaal it is translated as “cloth mouth.” (Source: Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about tzitzvits (source: Bible Lands 2012)

complete verse (Numbers 15:38)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 15:38:

  • Kupsabiny: “to tell the people of Israel, ‘Make tassels on the corners of your clothes and sew bluish threads to intertwine those tassels. you must do like that through all age-sets.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Speak to the Israelites, ‘Also from now on up to later generations you must put tassels of blue thread on the four corners of the sides of your shawls. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “to say this to the Israelinhon: ‘You (plur.) make some tassels on the corner/edge of your (plur.) garments/clothes and you (plur.) put in them blue cord. You (plur.) must follow/obey it forever/[lit. until whenever].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Tell this to the Israeli people: You and all your descendants must twist threads together to make tassels, and then attach them with blue cords to the bottom edges of your clothes.” (Source: Translation for Translators)