tabernacle (noun)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “tabernacle” in English is translated in San Blas Kuna as “house of prayer that can be carried.” (Source: Ronald Ross)

In Bandi it is translated as “holy sitting place.” The “sitting place for the Bandi is where you live.” Therefore the tabernacle is the place where God lived. (Source: Becky Grossmann in this newsletter )

In Vidunda it is translated as “God’s tent” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Tibetan as gur mchog (གུར་​མཆོག) or “perfect tent” (source: gSungrab website )

In American Sign Language it is translated with with a sign for “tent” combined with a sign referring to the outer court surrounding the tent (see Exodus 27:9 and following). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Tabernacle” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

See also tabernacle (verb) / dwell, festival of Tabernacles and ark of the covenant.

complete verse (Numbers 3:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 3:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “They shall be taking care of everything in that Tent,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They must take responsibility for all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting. And they must do the work in the Holy Tent on behalf of all the Israelites.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also are-to-take-care of all the things/equipment in the Tent, and are-to-serve in the Tent for the Israelinhon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They must serve all the Israeli people by taking care of all the things that are inside the Sacred Tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 3:8

They shall have charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting: Have charge of renders the Hebrew verb shamar (see 1.53). Here it may be rendered “take care of” (New Century Version). For the Tabernacle’s furnishings, see 1.50.

And attend to the duties for the people of Israel: Attend to the duties renders the same intensified Hebrew verb plus cognate noun construction (shamar mishmeret) as in the previous verse (see the comments there).

As they minister at the tabernacle: See the comments on the previous verse.

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 .