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 4:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 4:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “These are the things that the house of Merari shall carry: The frames of the Tent of God, the horizontal poles, the posts, the things that the posts stand on,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “This is the work that they must do at the Tent of Meeting — the wooden planks of the Holy Tent, their crossbars and pillars and bases,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is their work/doings/duty at the Meeting-Together-Place Tent: they are to carry the frames of the Tent, the crossbars of-this, the posts, and the bases.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their work will be to carry the frames that hold up the tent, the crossbars, the posts that hold up the curtains, and the bases.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 4:31 - 4:32

And this is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: This sentence introduces what Tabernacle objects the Merarites had to carry. What they are charged renders the Hebrew word mishmeret, which is translated “charge” in 3.25 (see the comments there). It indicates that the Merarites were responsible to carry their assigned objects regularly, whenever the Tent of Meeting was moved. To carry renders the Hebrew word massaʾ again (see verse 15). For the Hebrew word rendered service, see the comments on verse 4. As was the case in verse 24, this sentence in Hebrew seems to refer to more submissive work than that mentioned at the end of verse 15, which suggests that the tasks of the Merarites were less central and perhaps more subordinate than those of the Kohathites. (Good News Translation and many other translations do not reflect this.) The text itself also seems to imply that the Merarites’ work was more subordinate than that of the Gershonites since they are the last Levite division listed with the least amount of description given to their assigned tasks.

The frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases: See the comments on 3.36.

The pillars of the court round about with their bases, pegs, and cords: See the comments on 3.37.

With all their equipment and all their accessories renders two Hebrew phrases that are almost identical to those at the end of 3.36 (see the comments there), but there Revised Standard Version translates “and all their accessories; all the service pertaining to these.” The Hebrew words for equipment and accessories are the same ones rendered “accessories” and “service” respectively in 3.36. Here Good News Translation has “with all the fittings used in setting them up,” but in 3.36 it has “and all its fittings. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.” But since these two phrases have the same Hebrew nouns here and in 3.36, there is no need for such variation in translation at this point. Variation should not appear in a translation where two or more passages of the biblical text are exactly the same. Variation can then be used to more accurately reflect where differences actually occur in the original Hebrew. New International Version reflects better the close similarity between these two passages in Hebrew by saying “all its equipment, and everything related to their use” in 3.36 and “all their equipment and everything related to their use” here.

And you shall assign by name the objects which they are required to carry: As in 4.27, the Hebrew verb rendered you shall assign is plural (so also New Afrikaans Version, Luther, Buber). The plural presumably refers to the priests, that is, Aaron and his sons (see the comments on 4.27). For they are required, which renders the Hebrew word mishmeret, see the comments on 3.25. To carry translates the Hebrew word massaʾ again. Bible en français courant provides a good model for this sentence, saying “The priests will make up the lists of objects which everyone will be personally charged to carry.”

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 .