bread, loaf

The Greek term that is translated in English as “bread” or “loaf” is translated in Samo, it is translated as “Sago,” which serves “like ‘bread’ for the Hebrews, as a generic for food in the Samo language. It is a near-perfect metonymy that has all the semantic elements necessary for effective communication.” (Source: Daniel Shaw in Scriptura 96/2007, p. 501ff.)

In Chol it is translated as waj, the equivalent of a tortilla. (Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight)

John Beekman (in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 180f. ) explains: “The word ‘bread’ in Scripture primarily occurs as either a specific term for bread (including the Lord’s Supper), or as a generic term for food. It is not surprising, however, the some aboriginal groups use something other than bread as the staff of life. The Chols, with their cultural focus in the cultivation of corn, use waj, a type of thin corn flake. Since a meal is not complete without this main item of food, the term has been extended to include any other foods which may be served along with waj. While bread is known to them, its use is limited to a few occasions during the year when it functions as a dessert. In translating this term in the Chol New Testament, consistent use has been made of the word waj whenever the function of bread as a basic food was in focus. John 6:35, “I am the bread of life,” was thus translated with this word. If the word for bread had been used, it was feared that the Chol would compare Christ to the desirable, but not absolutely necessary, dessert.”

Robert Bascom adds his thoughts to this in relation to other Mayan languages (in Omanson 2001, p. 260): “In many Mayan languages, ‘bread’ can be translated waj or kaxlan waj. The first term literally means anything made from corn meal, while the second term literally means ‘foreigner’s waj,’ and refers to the local wheat-based sweet breads which are so popular within the broader European-influenced culture of the region. On the one hand, waj would be a better dynamic equivalent in cases where ‘bread’ meant ‘food,’ but in cases where the focus is literal or the reference well-known, kaxlan waj would preserve a flour-based meaning (though in biblical times barley was more in use than wheat) and not insert corn into a time and place where it does not belong. On the other hand kaxlan waj is not the staff of life, but refers to a local delicacy. In cases such as these, it is even tempting to suggest borrowing pan, the Spanish word for ‘bread,’ but native speakers might respond that borrowing a foreign word is not necessary since both waj and kaxlan waj are native terms that cover the meaning (though in this case, perhaps not all that well).”

In Mairasi it is translated bread tubers. Tubers are the main food staple and are therefore synonymous with food. (Source: Enggavoter 2004). In Yagaria, Kâteand Yabem it is translated as “taro cake.” (Source: Renck, p. 101)

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

Translation commentary on Sirach 45:20

He added glory to Aaron and gave him a heritage: He added glory to Aaron is rendered “he rewarded Aaron again” by Good News Translation. A heritage refers to “a special honor” (Good News Translation) or perhaps better, “a special right,” which is specified in the next lines. It is called a heritage since this right was to be exercised by Aaron’s descendants. So we may render these two lines to begin the verse as follows: “The Lord honored Aaron even more by giving him the right….”

He allotted to him the first of the first fruits: The priests were entitled to eat the offerings brought by the people that were called first fruits, a portion of the earliest harvest. Good News Translation says “first produce,” and Contemporary English Version has “first part of the harvest.” See Num 18.13. The first of the first fruits is an odd phrase not found in Num 18. Most scholars take it to mean “the best of the first fruits” (New Revised Standard Version).

He prepared bread of first fruits in abundance: The Greek of this line is not clear. If first fruits are referred to at all, it is by an unusual expression. We will offer here this model:

• He gave the priests plenty to eat, the bread that was offered to the Lord. *
* He gave … to the Lord; this line is unclear in Greek.

The explanation for this model is a bit complicated. We should first be aware that the Hebrew text is defective at this point, so that we cannot be sure what the original said. There is a word in the Greek which would ordinarily be taken to mean “at first” (compare New Jerusalem Bible “before all else”). In 4.17 this word is used in that sense. The Hebrew of 4.17 is available, so that we know the Hebrew word it translates. Now as it happens, that same Hebrew word is also used in Exo 25.30, along with the word for “bread,” to refer to what Revised Standard Version calls “the bread of the presence,” what Good News Translation calls “the bread offered to God.” If ben Sira was referring to that here, it would make perfect sense in the context, and we can see how the Greek translator could mistake the highly ambiguous Hebrew word. (The Greek Old Testament uses another expression to refer to this special bread. See also Matt 12.4.) The instructions for the use of this bread are given in Lev 24.5-9, although it is not referred to there by a special term. This interpretation is adopted by New American Bible, Box and Oesterley, Luís Alonso Schökel, and Shekan, all of whom usually translate the Hebrew. But interestingly, it is also adopted by An American Translation, which is ordinarily a highly conservative translation of the Greek.

Translators who are not comfortable with the model above may try this:

• so that the priests, in particular, should have plenty to eat. *
* so that the priests … to eat; this line is unclear in Greek.

This is similar to the understanding in Good News Translation and New English Bible (“to ensure that they above all should have bread in plenty”). Good News Translation, however, does not account for the difficult prepositional phrase; here it is translated as “in particular.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.