22:24a
saying, “Teacher: Here, the word Teacher refers to a religious teacher. It was a polite title for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Sir
-or-
Master
This same word is in 22:16b. Translate it the same way here.
Moses said: The words that Moses said are the word that he wrote in Deut 25:5–6. For that reason it is also possible to translate this as:
Moses wrote that (Contemporary English Version)
22:24b–d
Some versions are like the English Standard Version and treat the clauses in 22:24b–d as direct speech. However, these clauses are not a direct quote from Deuteronomy. So it is also possible to translate them as a description of what Moses wrote. For example:
Moses wrote that if a man dies having no children his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. (Contemporary English Version)
22:24b
If a man dies: The context indicates that this man was a married man. So another way to translate this is:
If a married man dies (New Century Version)
having no children: The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as children can refer to either male or female children. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
without any children (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
childless (God’s Word)
22:24c
his brother: In Greek, the phrase his brother can refer to either an older or younger brother. If you must choose one, then translate it as “younger brother.”
must marry: This Greek verb is in the future tense, but the context makes it equivalent to a command. The brother was required to marry the widow even if he already had his own wife. If you have a word or phrase for this custom in your language, use it here.
the widow: The Greek phrase that the English Standard Version translates as the widow is more literally translated “his woman.” It refers to a woman who was married to a man before he died. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
his wife (New American Standard Bible)
22:24d
and raise up offspring: This phrase refers to having sexual relations with the brother’s widow so that she bears children.
The Greek word that the English Standard Version translates as offspring is more literally “seed” (as in the King James Version). It generally refers to descendants, people who carry on a family line. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
and provide an heir (Revised English Bible)
-or-
so that they can have children (Good News Translation)
-or-
so that the dead person will have some descendants
for his brother: This phrase means “as his brother’s heirs.” Any children of this new marriage would be considered the dead man’s children. Here is another way to translate this phrase:
who will carry on the brother’s name (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
who will be considered the dead man’s children (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 22:24b–d
It might be useful to add a footnote explaining this custom if it is not common in your area. For example:
The brother did not get rid of his own wife before marrying the widow. This practice was intended to make sure that the dead man’s name would not be forgotten, his property would remain in the family. and his widow would be taken care of.
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