complete verse (Numbers 18:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 18:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “No Israelite who is not from this clan of Levites is ever again to come near to my Tent. If he does that, he shall be killed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From now on the Israelites must not come before the Tent of Meeting. Otherwise they will die because of their sin.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From now (on), no other Israelinhon who will-come-near to the Meeting-Together-Place Tent aside only for the priests and the Levites, for if they will-come-near, they will-answer/responsible for their sin and die.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The other Israelis must not go near that tent. If they go near it, I will consider that their doing that is a sin, and they will die for committing that sin.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 18:22

And henceforth the people of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting is literally “And the people of Israel shall not again come near the Tent of Meeting.” New Living Translation makes it clear that this clause refers to all the Israelites except for the priests and the other Levites by saying “From now on, no Israelites except priests or Levites may approach the Tabernacle.” Good News Translation is similar with “The other Israelites must no longer approach the Tent.”

Lest they bear sin and die: Bear sin may be rendered “bear offense” (Alter), “load guilt upon themselves” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling), or “suffer the consequences of their sin” (NET Bible footnote; see 9.13). Good News Translation omits the idea of sin, but translators should keep it since it highlights the reason for the severe punishment of death. A violation of the sacred space of the Tent of Meeting was a sin against the holiness of the LORD himself and therefore had to be punished accordingly (see 1.51). New Living Translation has a separate sentence here, saying “If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and will die.”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .