priest

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that are typically translated as “priest” in English (itself deriving from Latin “presbyter” — “elder”) is often translated with a consideration of existing religious traditions. (Click or tap for details)

Bratcher / Nida (1961) say this:

“However, rather than borrow local names for priests, some of which have unwanted connotations, a number of translations have employed descriptive phrases based on certain functions: (1) those describing a ceremonial activity: Pamona uses tadu, the priestess who recites the litanies in which she describes her journey to the upper or under-world to fetch life-spirit for sick people, animals or plants; Batak Toba uses the Arabic malim, ‘Muslim religious teacher;’ ‘one who presents man’s sacrifice to God’ (Bambara, Eastern Maninkakan), ‘one who presents sacrifices’ (Baoulé, Navajo), ‘one who takes the name of the sacrifice’ (Kpelle, and ‘to make a sacrifice go out’ (Hausa); (2) those describing an intermediary function: ‘one who speaks to God’ (Shipibo-Conibo) and ‘spokesman of the people before God’ (Tabasco Chontal).”

In Obolo it is translated as ogwu ngwugwa or “the one who offers sacrifice” (source: Enene Enene), in Mairasi as agam aevar nevwerai: “religious leader” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Ignaciano as “blesser, one who does ritual as a practice” (using a generic term rather than the otherwise common Spanish loan word sacerdote) (source: Willis Ott in Notes on Translation 88/1982, p. 18ff.), and in Noongar as yakin-kooranyi or “holy worker” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

For Guhu-Samane, Ernest Richert (in The Bible Translator, 1965, p. 81ff. ) reports this:

“The [local] cult of Poro used to be an all-encompassing religious system that essentially governed all areas of life. (…) For ‘priest’ the term ‘poro father’ would at first seem to be a natural choice. However, several priests of the old cult are still living. Although they no longer function primarily as priests of the old system they still have a substantial influence on the community, and there would be more than a chance that the unqualified term would (in some contexts particularly) be equated with the priest of the poro cult. We learned, then, that the poro fathers would sometimes be called ‘knife men’ in relation to their sacrificial work. The panel was pleased to apply this term to the Jewish priest, and the Christian community has adopted it fully. [Mark 1:44, for instance, now] reads: ‘You must definitely not tell any man of this. But you go show your body to the knife man and do what Moses said about a sacrifice concerning your being healed, and the cause (base of this) will be apparent.'”

For a revision of the 1968 version of the Bible in Khmer Joseph Hong (in: The Bible Translator 1996, 233ff. ) talks about a change in wording for this term:

​​Bau cha r (បូជា‌ចារ្យ) — The use of this new construction meaning “priest” is maintained to translate the Greek word hiereus. The term “mean sang (មាន សង្ឃ)” used in the old version actually means a “Buddhist monk,” and is felt to be theologically misleading. The Khmer considers the Buddhist monk as a “paddy field of merits,” a reserve of merits to be shared with other people. So a Khmer reader would find unthinkable that the mean sang in the Bible killed animals, the gravest sin for a Buddhist; and what a scandal it would be to say that a mean sang was married, had children, and drank wine.

Translation commentary on Exod 29:1

Now this is what you shall do to them is literally “And this is the thing [davar] that you [singular] shall do to them.” Translators may begin this new section by saying “The LORD said to Moses, ….” Now this refers to all the instructions that follow, up to verse 38, where Now this is repeated again for the daily offerings. The word davar may mean “word,” “event,” or “thing.” New American Bible has “rite,” Translator’s Old Testament has “ritual,” and Fox has “ceremony.” One may also express this as “Now these are the things that you are to do to….” Them refers to Aaron and his sons. To consecrate them is literally “to make them holy.” This may mean “to dedicate them” (Good News Translation), or “to set them apart” (Durham). (See the comment at 28.41.) That they may serve me as priests is identical with 28.41. (See also the comment at 28.1.) An alternative translation model for the first part of this verse is “The LORD said to Moses, ‘When you ordain [or, install] Aaron and his sons as my priests, you shall….’ ”

Take one young bull is literally “you [singular] take one young bull, son of a cow.” The words “son of a cow” seem to be unnecessary, for a young bull is, of course, a “son of a cow.” But New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “a young bull of the herd,” and Fox has “a steer, a young-one of the herd.” The word for young bull (par) is not the same as that used for “ox” (shor), which is a more generic Hebrew term for a fully grown bovine, or head of cattle (see 21.28.) The par, though young, was already a mature animal. And two rams means two mature male sheep. (See the comment on “sheep” at 2.16.) Without blemish is one word meaning “whole,” or “complete.” This means “without any defects” (Good News Translation), or “have nothing wrong with them” (Contemporary English Version). This refers to the bull as well as to the rams.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .