complete verse (Numbers 18:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 18:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “The Levites must join with you and do all the work that needs to be done in the Tent of God. No other person must come near you to do the work together.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They must work under you. And [they] must do the work of the Tent of Meeting. No one else among you may come [near]you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They are-to-help you (sing.), and (it is) their responsibility to take-care the Meeting-Together-Place Tent and the doing of all are-to-be-done of-it. But no one are-to-help you (plur.) who is not a descendant of Levi.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They may assist you in doing all the work to take care of the Sacred Tent, but no one else is permitted to come near the place where you are working.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Numbers 18:4

In this verse the priority and authority of the priests is underscored again, as well as the division of labor between the priests (in the sanctuary) and the Levites (outside the sanctuary).

They shall join you: The pronoun They still refers to Aaron’s fellow Levites, first mentioned in verse 2. For the Hebrew verb rendered join, see verse 2. The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular, referring to Aaron. New Jewish Publication Society Version renders this clause as “They shall be attached to you.”

And attend to the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent: Attend renders the Hebrew expression shamar mishmeret, which is literally “do the duty” (see verse 3). For the tent of meeting, see 1.1. The Hebrew noun for service is ʿabodah (see 4.4).

And no one else shall come near you is literally “and a stranger/alien shall not come near you [plural].” The conjunction and may be rendered “but” (Good News Bible) since it introduces a contrast. In contrast to the Levites, no one else is allowed to work with the priests. In this context the Hebrew word for “stranger/alien” refers to anyone who is not a member of the tribe of Levi (that is, who is neither a priest nor a Levite; compare 1.51). New Jewish Publication Society Version has “outsider.” In some languages renderings such as “no unqualified person” (Good News Bible) and “no unauthorized person” (New Living Translation) may give the wrong suggestion that there are other outsiders who can be authorized and given access. Come near renders the same Hebrew verb as in verse 3. Here Revised Standard Version‘s literal rendering of this verb might be misunderstood. If so, it may be rendered “work with” (Good News Bible) or simply “assist” (New Living Translation). The Hebrew pronoun for you is plural, referring to Aaron and his sons. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “You are not to let yourselves be helped by anybody other than the Levites” (similarly Dutch Common Language Version). New Jewish Publication Society Version offers an alternative translation by combining this clause closely with verse 5 as follows: “but no outsider shall intrude upon you 5 as you discharge the duties connected with the Shrine and the altar…” (similarly De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). According to this interpretation, not even the Levites can come near the priests as the priests work in the sanctuary and near the altar. (Lay people are not really considered in this section at all.) We prefer the interpretation in Revised Standard Version and most other versions.

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 .