Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:7

This conclusion ties in with verse 2.

All the great work: this includes all the extraordinary things God did as he led the people those forty years in the wilderness. Contemporary English Version has a helpful model: “with your own eyes, you saw the LORD’s mighty power do all these things.” But we may also express this as “… you saw the LORD use his mighty power to do all these things.”

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 12:10

This verse amplifies and expands on verse 9. In Hebrew verses 10-11 are one long, complex sentence; Revised Standard Version faithfully reproduces the vocabulary and structure of the original. However, in many languages translators should divide these verses into three or more sentences (see Good News Translation).

Go over the Jordan: see 4.14.

The land which the LORD your God gives you to inherit: see previous verse, and 1.8.

The meaning of rest is here explained as live in safety; their enemies will not pose a threat to them. Bible en français courant offers a good model: “He will keep you secure from all the enemies that surround you, and you will live in safety.”

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 13:16

Spoil: this means the people’s possessions, their valuables, which would normally be kept by the victors as a prize of war. Revised English Bible has “goods,” New Jerusalem Bible “loot,” New International Version “plunder.” An alternative translation model for this first sentence may be “Bring [or, Gather] all the possessions of the people who live there and pile them up….”

The midst of its open square: this is the public square or large flat open area, near the town gate. If such a feature is not part of a given culture, something like “the main street” or “a large flat open area in the center of town” can be used.

A whole burnt offering: this is the sacrifice that is completely burned (see Exo 29.18; Lev 6.22-23; 8.21; 1 Sam 7.9).

It shall be a heap for ever … not be built again: never again will a town or city be built on that place; never again will people live there. It will be a desolate ruin forever. An alternative translation model for this sentence is “It must be left in ruins forever and never again rebuilt.” However, it shall not be built again contains the idea that it must be left in ruins. So we may translate simply as “Don’t ever rebuild that town.”

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 15:15

This verse furnishes the basis or motivation for freeing slaves. The Israelites themselves had been slaves in Egypt, and they would know what it means to be set free.

Remember: Israelites were never to forget the great act of liberation that made them the people of Yahweh.

Redeemed: see 7.8; see also 4.34; 9.26; 16.12; 24.18.

I command you this today: again “today” is stressed (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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 17:11

Again the verse repeats what has already been said.

According to the instructions which they give you: this matches “they declare” in verse 10.

According to the decrees which they pronounce to you: this matches “they direct you” in verse 10. It means the decision the judge makes in any given case. The Hebrew is rather wordy and repetitive. Translators must decide whether such repetition is acceptable in their language, or whether to summarize as some translations have done; for example, Good News Translation has “accept their verdict and follow their instructions in every detail,” and Contemporary English Version is more concise, with “Do exactly what they tell you.”

You shall not turn aside, either to the right hand or to the left: see 5.32. The meaning of this figure of speech is quite clear; it means to carry out all instructions strictly, to the last detail, without neglecting anything.

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 19:10

This verse continues from the previous verse; but see Good News Translation as an example of beginning a new sentence here: “Do this, so that innocent people….”

Lest innocent blood be shed: that is, “so that innocent people will not be put to death.” If the phrase innocent blood is normally used in a language to indicate an innocent person who has been killed, it may be used; otherwise the meaning should be made clear. The killing here is an execution; that is why “be put to death” or its equivalent should be used.

The guilt of bloodshed be upon you: the whole nation would be guilty of having put to death an innocent person. Contemporary English Version makes this clear with “You will be guilty of murder if innocent people lose their lives.”

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 21:4

Bring the heifer down: the place where the heifer is to be killed is, like the animal itself, a place that has not been used for any purpose. It is still wild, it has never been farmed, neither plowed nor sown, or “where they [people in general] have never plowed the ground or sown crops.”

A valley with running water: this is not a stream that appears and disappears with the seasonal rains, but an ever flowing stream fed by a spring. Good News Translation has “a stream that never runs dry.” We may also express this as “a stream that flows all year.”

Break the heifer’s neck: presumably by means of a blow with a pole, or an ax. This animal is not being sacrificed to God (see Exo 13.13; 34.20). This is not a sacrifice to take away sin.

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 22:19

A hundred shekels of silver: this is twice the amount of the standard bride price a groom paid the father (see 22.29). So the young man would have to pay the bride price again, plus an additional fifty shekels. A hundred shekels was worth quite a lot. Translators should avoid transliterating the word “shekel,” as it will be meaningless to the reader. A better model is “a hundred pieces of silver” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

A virgin of Israel: this is a solemn title, indicating the seriousness of the man’s conduct. However, if the use of a technical term meaning virgin sounds strange in this context, we may say, for example, “because the man has disgraced an Israelite girl [or, young woman]” or “… has caused an Israelite young woman to receive shame [or, lose face].” The Contemporary English Version rendering “accused his bride of not being a virgin” doesn’t really bring out the idea of disgrace within the community of Israel.

She shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days: this is taken to be a good ruling; the young woman’s wishes are of no importance. A good alternative model is “she shall continue to be his wife, and he can never divorce her as long as he lives” (Good News Translation).

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 .