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)
In these three verses the day (sixth ) and the number of bulls (eight) are different from verses 20-22 (see the comments there). There is one other small difference. Instead of its drink offerings, verse 22 has “its drink offering,” which is the reading in verse 31 also in a few Hebrew manuscripts, the Vulgate, and the Peshitta. We recommend the singular phrase “its drink offering” (similarly New International Version, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, Contemporary Russian Version). Concerning Good News Translation‘s reduction of the text in verses 30-31, see the comments on verses 18-19.
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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