Levite

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:31

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the first-born of Shallum the Korahite …: In addition to his name, pieces of information about Mattithiah included in the text are: (1) the fact that he was a Levite, (2) the name of his father, (3) his order of birth, and (4) the clan to which he and his father belonged. All of this information precedes the statement about his responsibility for making the cakes. The order in which this information is given and the number of sentences required will be determined by what is natural in the receptor language.

Was in charge of making the flat cakes: Was in charge of is literally “the office of trust” (see the comments on verse 22). As in verse 22, Nouvelle Bible Segond understands the Hebrew word here to mean “permanent,” with the sense that this job was a permanent job for Mattithiah (so also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The Hebrew word for flat cakes literally means “things made/baked in pans.” This is the only time this word occurs in the Old Testament. Lev 2.4-8 describes three or four different ways of preparing and presenting grain offerings. The one most likely referred to here is the one in which the bread was cooked in a pan (Lev 2.7). Since these cakes were offered to God, some versions make their purpose explicit by saying “baked offerings” (Good News Translation) or “bread for the offerings” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .