Then Tobias said in answer to Raphael: We may say “Tobias then answered Raphael” or more simply “Tobias answered” (Contemporary English Version).

On the use of brother, see 5.10.

I have heard that she already has been married to seven husbands: Already properly belongs with has been married, not have heard, as Good News Translation has it. Married is literally “given.” In languages that do not have the passive voice, translators may say “I have heard that Raguel has already let seven men take her as wife.”

In the bridal chamber: This is literally “in their bridal chambers.” The bridal chamber refers to the room where the bride and bridegroom would go to consummate the marriage. “On his wedding night” (Good News Translation) expresses the idea with imagery of time rather than space, combining with the night literally in the Greek text.

When they went in to her: The sense of this is “before he could get to bed” (Good News Translation) or “before going to bed with her” (Contemporary English Version). This means of course, before the marriage could be consummated.

They would die: “Dropped dead” (Good News Translation, New American Bible) expresses the force of a conjunction used with the Greek verb.

I have heard people saying …: The goal in this verse and the following one is to convey a sense of fear and apprehension on Tobias’s part at Raphael’s scheme. The New Revised Standard Version rendering is quite literal. “According to the story I heard…” is another acceptable way to express the sense of these words.

For demon see 3.8.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Tobit. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.