The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”
In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)
The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Verses 20-21 deal with the grain offerings that had to accompany the burnt offerings during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Also their cereal offering of fine flour mixed with oil: We recommend beginning a new sentence here, as in verse 12 (see the comments there). The pronoun their probably refers to the burnt offerings mentioned in the previous verse. Their cereal offering may be rendered “the proper grain offering” (Good News Translation), “the required [grain] offering” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), or “the grain offering belonging to them” (similarly Herziene Statenvertaling). For fine flour mixed with oil, see verse 5.
Three tenths of an ephah shall you offer for a bull: See verse 12. The Hebrew pronoun for you is plural, referring to the Israelites. Some languages may need to add the implied phrase “fine flour mixed with oil” here. New Century Version does it by rendering this clause as “With each bull give a grain offering of six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil.”
And two tenths for a ram: See verse 12. Here New Century Version adds the implied phrase “of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil,” saying “With the male sheep it must be four quarts of fine flour mixed with oil.”
A tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs: See verse 13. Once again, New Century Version adds the implied phrase “of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil,” saying “With each of the seven lambs, it must be two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil.” The Hebrew verb for offer is singular (as in verses 4 and 8), perhaps to underscore that this is an action for people individually.
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 .
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