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Description
Fractions are a kind of number that refer to equal parts of a thing or to equal groups within a larger group of people or things. An item or a group of items is divided into two or more parts or groups, and a fraction refers to one or more of those parts or groups.
For the drink offering, you must offer a third of a hin of wine. (Numbers 15:7 ULT)
A hin is a container used for measuring wine and other liquids. They were to think about dividing a hin container into three equal parts and fill up only one of those parts, and offer that amount.
a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:9 ULT)
There were many ships. If all those ships were divided into three equal groups of ships, one group of ships was destroyed.
Most fractions in English simply have “-th” added to the end of the number.
| Number of parts the whole is divided into | Fraction |
|---|---|
| four | fourth |
| ten | tenth |
| one hundred | one hundredth |
| one thousand | one thousandth |
Some fractions in English do not follow that pattern.
| Number of parts the whole is divided into | Fraction |
|---|---|
| two | half |
| three | third |
| five | fifth |
Reason this is a translation issue
Some languages do not use fractions. They may simply talk about parts or groups, but they do not use fractions to tell how big a part is or how many are included in a group.
Examples From the Bible
Now to one half of the tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given an inheritance in Bashan, but to the other half, Joshua gave an inheritance beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. (Joshua 22:7 ULT)
The tribe of Manasseh divided into two groups. The phrase “one half of the tribe of Manasseh” refers one of those groups. The phrase “the other half” refers to the other group.
The four angels who had been prepared for that very hour, that day, that month, and that year, were released to kill a third of humanity. (Revelation 9:15 ULT)
If all the people in the world were to be divided into three equal groups, then the number of people in one group would be killed.
You must also prepare a fourth of a hin of wine as the drink offering. (Numbers 15:5 ULT)
They were to imagine dividing a hin of wine into four equal parts and prepare the amount equal to one of them.
Translation Strategies
If a fraction in your language would give the right meaning, consider using it. If not, you could consider these strategies.
- Tell the number of parts or groups that the item would be divided into, and then tell the number of parts or groups that is being referred to.
- For measurements such as for weight and length, use a unit that your people might know or the unit in the UST.
- For measurements, use ones that are used in your language. In order to do that you would need to know how your measurements relates to the metric system and figure out each measurement.
Examples of These Translation Strategies Applied
(1) Tell the number of parts or groups that the item would be divided into, and then tell the number of parts or groups that is being referred to.
A third of the ocean became red like blood (Revelation 8:8 ULT)
It was like they divided the ocean into three parts, and one part of the ocean became blood.
then you must offer with the bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil. (Numbers 15:9 ULT)
…then you must divide an ephah of fine flour into ten parts and divide a hin of oil into two parts. Then mix three of those parts of the flour with one of the parts of oil. Then you must offer that grain offering along with the bull.
(2) For measurements, use the measurements that are given in the UST. The translators of the UST have already figured how to represent the amounts in the metric system.
two thirds of a shekel (1 Samuel 13:21 ULT)
eight grams of silver (1 Samuel 13:21 UST)
three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil. (Numbers 15:9 ULT)
six and one-half liters of finely ground flour mixed with two liters of olive oil. (Numbers 15:9 UST)
(3) For measurements, use ones that are used in your language. In order to do that you would need to know how your measurements relates to the metric system and figure out each measurement.
three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil. (Numbers 15:9, ULT)
six quarts of fine flour mixed with two quarts of oil.