Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 26:16

With the beginning of a new section, Moses should be reintroduced as the speaker.

This day: or, as in Good News Translation, “Today.” Appearing also in verses 17 and 18, this phrase emphasizes the fact that all the contents of this long speech (section 2 of the book, 5.1–26.19, or possibly even all of Moses’ discourses to the people of Israel in Moab) were given on one day (see 5.1; 11.2, 8, 26, 32; 27.9).

Statutes and ordinances: see 4.1.

With all your heart and with all your soul: see 4.29; 6.5.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 1:17

This verse includes three separate instructions:
(1) You shall not be partial in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. New Revised Standard Version rightly places a colon instead of a semicolon after “judgment,” since what follows is a further elaboration of the first item. By small and great is meant the lowly, poor, powerless people, as opposed to the important, wealthy, influential members of the community. It is possible to reverse the order of these two clauses: “It doesn’t matter if one person is poor [or, helpless] and the other is powerful [or, wealthy], you must judge impartially.”
(2) You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s. Again, New Revised Standard Version is much clearer in English: “You shall not be intimidated by anyone”; this is more simply “Don’t be afraid of anyone” (Contemporary English Version). And the reason for this instruction is that judgment is given in God’s name and with God’s authority. In this community in which God’s laws ruled the people, any enforcement of the law was an application of God’s will. So Good News Translation has “for the decision you make comes from God.” Another way to express this is “For God will help you to make the right [or, correct] decision.”
(3) And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring it to me, and I will hear it. The meaning here is quite clear; Moses will hear—that is, decide, settle, judge—any dispute that is too difficult for the appointed judge to handle. The clause you shall bring it to me can be taken to mean “bring the people to me” (Contemporary English Version), as it is two people who are having a dispute. And this final sentence may thus be expressed as “If any dispute is too difficult for you to decide, bring the people who are involved to me and I will make the decision.”

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 2:14

This verse and the next one provide information about the length of time it took the Israelites to get to the land of Canaan.

The thirty-eight years is two years short of the standard “forty years” (1.2) from the time the Israelites left Egypt until they entered Canaan. It may be that the author is subtracting the two years it took for them to reach Sinai, as well as the time spent in Kadesh Barnea (Num 1.1; 9.1; 10.11-12). Revised Standard Version is too complicated. The Good News Translation rendering is a more natural one: “This was thirty-eight years after we left Kadesh Barnea.”

The entire generation, that is, the men of war: this is better expressed by New Revised Standard Version, “the entire generation of warriors,” and Revised English Bible, “… of fighting men.”

As the LORD had sworn to them: for “swear” see 1.8.

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 3:16

To the Reubenites and Gadites: “To the tribes of Reuben and Gad,” or “to the people of the tribes of Reuben and Gad.”

The territory from Gilead as far as the valley of the Arnon: that is, from Gilead south to the Arnon River.

With the middle of the valley as a boundary, as far over as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites: see Good News Translation for clarity and precision. But it must be said that in Hebrew verse 16 is not all that clear. The Septuagint translates as follows: “And to Reuben and Gad I gave [the territory] from Gilead to the Wadi Arnon (the boundary was in the middle of the wadi) and as far as the Jabbok.” Instead of with the middle of the valley as a boundary, as far over as the river Jabbok, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “in the middle of the river and (its adjacent) territory, and unto the river Jabbok.” The Hebrew Old Testament Text Project Preliminary Report is not at all clear, and translators may stay with Revised Standard Version, or translate in a similar way to New Revised Standard Version, as follows: “… from Gilead as far as the Arnon River, with the middle of the river as a boundary, and up to the Jabbok River.”

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 4:23

This verse uses the same vocabulary, expressions, and constructions as are used in verses 9 and 15.

The covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you: this is a very full expression. For covenant see 4.13.

A graven image in the form of anything: see verses 16-18.

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 5:12

Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy: the verb Observe (Exo 20.8 has “Remember”) means “Take care,” “Be careful,” or “Make sure” (see the same verb in 4.9, 15). Bible en français courant has “Take care to consecrate to me…”; other possibilities are “Make sure that you treat the Sabbath as a holy day” or “Make sure that you treat the day of rest as belonging [or, dedicated] to me.”

Sabbath is a word that in some places will have to be carefully translated so as to avoid misunderstandings. Most modern translations use the traditional word for “Sabbath”; Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, however, has “day of rest,” and this may be a more meaningful translation. If, however, a translator transliterates the word sabbath, a footnote and a note in the Glossary should be included.

To keep it holy means to dedicate the day to God. Since God himself had made the seventh day a special day of rest (Gen 2.3; Exo 20.11), Israel was to do the same. Another way to express the first part of this verse is “Keep on observing the day of rest and dedicate it to me.”

As the LORD your God commanded you: this refers back to the original giving of the commandments at Mount Sinai (Exo 20.8).

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 6:14

Verses 14-15 are one sentence, with the prohibition first (“don’t worship other gods”), followed by the consequences if the Israelites disobey the command. This combination of command and threat appears often in this book (see 4.23-26; 8.19-20; 11.16-17).

From this verse to verse 17, you and your are plural in Hebrew.

Go after other gods: this means to pledge allegiance to them, or to worship them. For gods see 3.24.

The gods of the peoples who are round about you refers to the gods worshiped by the Canaanites, the Moabites, the Edomites, and other neighboring peoples.

The Hebrew of this verse is repetitive, and both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation maintain the redundancy. Another model of this strong command may be:

• You must not worship any of the gods that the other nations [or, people] worship.

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 7:24

Give … into your hand means the same as “give over to you” in verses 2, 16. For kings see 1.4.

Make their name perish from under heaven: once the people are killed they will not have any descendants to carry on the family name. Or else the meaning of this statement may be that they will be completely forgotten; no one will remember them or their deeds. Good News Translation has “and they will be forgotten,” and Contemporary English Version has “No one will remember they ever lived.” From under heaven means simply “on earth.”

Stand against you: that is, “resist you successfully” or “stop you” (Good News Translation).

Destroyed: the same verb that is used in verse 23.

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 .