He continued: In Greek this is literally “He said.” Good News Translation omits it since it interrupts the discourse in English. For most languages the same will be true.

So listen to me, brother: This attention-getting clause occurs twice in this verse. Good News Translation includes it once as “so follow my advice,” though Raphael is not actually giving Tobias advice to follow so much as letting him know in advance what is going to happen. The sense is not so much “heed my words” as “hear what I have to say.” Other ways to express this are “Now listen carefully” (Contemporary English Version) or even “Listen carefully to what I am saying.”

Tonight I will speak to her father about the girl is translated by Good News Translation as “Tonight I’ll discuss the marriage proposal with her father.” We may also say “Tonight I will suggest to her father that you marry the girl.”

So that we may take her to be your bride is the content of what Raphael will say to the father. Good News Translation has “and he will consent to give her to you as your bride,” or one may translate “so he will consent to let you take her as your wife.”

When we return from Rages we will celebrate her marriage: Good News Translation mistakenly interprets return as meaning “return home.” Raphael is not speaking of a return to Tobias’s home in Nineveh, but a return to Sarah’s home in Ecbatana. “When we return to Ecbatana” would clarify the situation. In fact, this is not quite what happens. At the father’s insistence, the marriage feast is held (8.19-21) before Raphael alone goes off to Rages (9.1-6).

The reader is reminded in Good News Translation that Rages is a “town,” though later in the same verse, at the end of the paragraph, Good News Translation refers to it as a “city.” In a number of languages it is important to distinguish between a “city” and a “town.” In some cultures a “town” will be expressed as “a small village with a high fence around it,” and a “city” as “a very big village with a….” In this present context translators should have the equivalent of “town” in both places, as Rages was not a big place like Nineveh.

Will celebrate her marriage: In this context marriage is rendered by some as “marriage feast,” since the occasion in this culture was not a solemn formal ceremony as much as a festive occasion. “Celebrate the marriage” (Good News Translation) is a possible alternative.

For I know: Good News Translation has no expression equivalent to this, but there is a verb here in the Greek text. It may seem unnecessary, but perhaps the expression has the effect of saying “One thing is certain” or “I know for sure.”

Without incurring the penalty of death according to the decree of the book of Moses: The only passage in the “Law of Moses” (Good News Translation) that Raphael could be referring to is Num 36. But this law provides only that daughters who inherit property must marry within the tribe, so as not to lose the property. It does not, however, impose a death penalty for violation. Another way to express this whole sentence is:

• I know for sure that Raguel cannot keep you from taking her as your wife, or let any other man have her. If he does this, then according to the Law of Moses [or, the Law that Moses gave] he deserves to be killed [or, executed].

It is also possible to place the next sentence Indeed he knows that you … are entitled to marry his daughter first as follows:

• Raguel knows that you are the only man who has the right to take his daughter as your wife. And I know that he can’t keep you from marrying her. If he does this, then according to the Law of Moses….

Tonight we shall speak concerning the girl and arrange her engagement to you: We suggests that Tobias will be involved in the discussion, but it is Raphael and Raguel who will talk to each other. So we may say “So tonight I will speak to Raguel and make the wedding arrangements [or, arrange for you to marry her].” Once the couple were engaged, they were considered married.

An alternative translation for the second half of this verse is:

• Now listen carefully to what I am saying. Raguel knows that you are the only one who has the right to take his daughter as your wife. And I know that he can’t keep you from marrying her, or let any other man have her. If he does this, then according to the Law of Moses he deserves to be killed. So tonight I will speak to Raguel and arrange for you to marry Sarah. Then you can take her home as your wife when we return to Ecbatana from Rages.

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.