Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 4:22

I must die: New Revised Standard Version “I am going to die,” or Good News Translation “I will die,” expresses the Hebrew better.

In this land: that is, Moab, on the east side of the Jordan.

I must not go over the Jordan: “I will not [get to] cross the Jordan River.”

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for the first two clauses of this verse: “So I must stay here and die on this side of the Jordan….”

You shall go over and take possession: see 1.8.

For that good land see the previous verse.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 5:11

Take the name … in vain: that is, to use the name in a manner not befitting God’s holiness. The phrase in vain means essentially “for a worthless purpose.” This could involve the use of magic, incantations, or curses. Good News Translation has “for evil purposes,” New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible “misuse the name,” New Revised Standard Version “make wrongful use of,” Revised English Bible “make wrong use of,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “swear falsely” (which is supported by Jer 7.9). Craigie defines it as “an attempt to manipulate God for personal ends.”

Will not hold him guiltless: this is variously expressed as “will not leave unpunished” (New Jerusalem Bible), “will not acquit” (New Revised Standard Version), and “will punish” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). It is better to avoid Revised Standard Version‘s exclusive him and say instead “I will punish anyone [or, any person] who….”

It must be noted that in this verse Yahweh refers to himself in the third person. In a number of languages it will be better to change this to the first person; for example, “I, the LORD your God” (Good News Translation) or “I am the LORD your God, and I will…” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 6:13

This verse was quoted by Jesus in his encounter with the Devil (Matt 4.10; Luke 4.8).

You shall fear the LORD your God: see 4.10; 10.20.

You shall serve him: the Hebrew verb is the same one translated “bondage” in verse 12.

Swear by his name: this means to use Yahweh’s name alone when making a promise or taking a vow. The person calls upon God to punish the one swearing if the promise is not kept. Another way to express this is “make strong [or, solemn] promises using his name” or “make strong promises and speak [or, utter] God’s name.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 7:23

This verse repeats the essence of verses 21-22.

Give them over to you: see verse 2.

Throw them into great confusion: exactly what God will do is not stated; whatever it is, it will cause the enemies to be afraid. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “throw them into utter panic,” New Revised Standard Version “great panic.” See verse 20 and similar expressions in Exo 14.24; 23.27.

Until they are destroyed: see verse 7.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 9:16

I looked, and behold: see verse 13.

You had sinned against the LORD your God: the verb normally translated “to sin” is used in this passage. In the Bible its basic meaning is to do something that is contrary to God’s will. It is a religious concept, not a legal one. The verbal phrase “to sin against God” means to disobey God; it is an offense that is an affront or an insult to God. So “sinned and disobeyed the LORD” will catch the meaning better.

You had made yourselves: that means “you had made for yourselves,” that is, “to bow down to,” “to worship” (as in verse 12).

A molten calf: a metal statue, or figure, in the shape of a calf. Both Good News Translation and Revised English Bible have “bull-calf.” It is not certain whether this idol is to be understood as a fertility symbol, as was true of some religions at that time. It could have been an image honoring some pagan god, or even one that was designed to honor Yahweh. Whatever the intention of those who made it, it was clearly an idol, so “they have taken metal and made an idol in the shape of a calf” may serve as a model.

You had turned aside quickly: see verse 12.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:2

Consider this day: the verb means “think about,” “ponder,” “remember” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Revised Standard Version), “take thought” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). This day is constantly emphasized (see 10.8, 15).

Since I am not speaking to your children …: Revised Standard Version places this within parentheses, since the direct object of the verb consider is the discipline of the LORD your God. There are other, better ways of handling this; Good News Translation has “Remember today what you have learned…. It was you, not your children, who had these experiences,” and Contemporary English Version has a slightly different model: “Remember, he corrected you and not your children.” The emphasis is on the fact that the people who are there in Moab with Moses, and not their children, are the ones who experienced all those events. Then Moses lists the very things they saw (see verses 3, 7). For the LORD your God see 1.6.

The discipline of the LORD your God: the Hebrew noun can mean the act of disciplining, or “training,” as New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version have it (see the verb in 8.5); or it can mean “lesson,” “instruction” (so Good News Translation “what you have learned”; see also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Either meaning fits well in the context, but it may be that the meaning “lesson” or “instruction” is to be preferred.

His greatness: instead of an abstract noun, a verbal phrase may be better: “how great [or mighty, or powerful] he is.” Contemporary English Version has “You are the ones who saw the LORD use his great power.”

Mighty hand … outstretched arm: see 4.34. In some languages translators may need to combine greatness, mighty hand, and outstretched arm by using one expression such as “mighty power.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:5

This verse has the first statement about “the one place of worship” (see also verses 14, 18, 21, 26). By the time this book was written, Jerusalem was the place that had been chosen by Yahweh where he was to be worshiped, in the Temple on Mount Zion.

You shall seek the place: this is from the point of view of Moses and the Israelites in Moab. God will choose the exact place, and the Israelites are to seek it. This is not in the sense that God will keep his choice a secret, which they will have to discover, but that they are to go directly to the place God chooses, since he would make his choice known. So Revised English Bible has “you are to resort to the place,” Bible en français courant “you will go to worship him at the place,” and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “the LORD will choose … you will go there.” In many languages it will be more natural style to use the pronoun “you” rather than “the people” as Good News Translation does.

The place … out of all your tribes: the place will be, of course, within the territorial limits of the land of Israel. So we may say, for example, “a place somewhere in Israel” or “a place somewhere in the land.”

To put his name and make his habitation there: this is a way of saying that a place of worship, a temple, will be built there for the worship of Yahweh. Good News Translation offers a good model: “come into his presence and worship him.” Bible en français courant has “to live there and manifest his presence,” Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje “the place where he will live and where people will go to worship him.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The LORD will choose a place somewhere in Israel [or, the land] where he will live and reveal his presence. You must find that place and go to worship the LORD there.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 13:10

You shall stone him to death: the verb is still the second person singular (as in verse 9). Stone him to death may also be rendered as “You shall take stones and throw them at him till he dies.”

He sought to draw you away from the LORD your God: this is the worst of all sins, apostasy, faithlessness, rebellion against Yahweh. Draw you away means “lead you away,” or even “cause you to rebel against.”

Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: see verse 5.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .