census

The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “census” in English is translated in these ways:

complete verse (Acts 5:37)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 5:37:

  • Uma: “One other time, during the census, there was also one Galilea person, his name Yudas. He also led many people to oppose the government. But he was killed also, and his followers were just scattered-scattered also.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “After Tudas, another one followed, a man of Jalil named Judas, during the time when the names of the people were listed. He also was able to bring many people to follow him, but he was also killed and all his followers were scattered.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then followed Judas of Galilee at the time when the government took census of all the people. There were also those who followed him, however he was also killed, and his followers also scattered.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There was also Judas from-Galilea who appeared (lit. came-out) in the time of the people’s being-censused. Many also were those whom he persuaded to join-in-accompanying him. But they killed him too, and his disciples were also scattered.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The next one to do like this was Judas the taga Galilea, at the time of the censusing of the people. Many also were the people he was able to cause to follow him, but when he too was killed, nothing came of it either for like the other in the past, they too were scattered.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 5:37

Galilean is simply “a man from the province of Galilee.”

During the time of the census may require some descriptive equivalent in some languages, for example, “while all the people were being counted,” or “while officers were writing down the names of all the people.” However, since census taking is increasingly more frequent in most parts of the world, there is usually a convenient expression for this process of registration.

Drew a crowd after him may be equivalent to “caused many people to follow him” or “caused many people to become his helpers.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .