Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:10 - 11:11

Verses 10-13 are one sentence, with some repetition: you are entering to take possession of it (verse 10) and you are going over to possess (verse 11), as in verse 8. In some languages the use of this kind of repetition may have a negative effect, leaving the reader bored with the narrative. A translator should use the style that will include all the information of the biblical text and at the same time keep the reader’s interest.

Not like the land of Egypt: the main difference is the source of water needed to grow crops. In Canaan the seasonal rains supplied the water; in Egypt the water was made to flow in irrigation canals by a series of water wheels, turned by foot. This seems to be the most reasonable explanation of the expression and watered it with your feet; some believe it is simply a way of saying “by means of hard work” (Good News Translation “work hard to irrigate the fields”). Some have suggested this means urinating, but this does not seem very likely. Alternative translation models are “you had to work hard to water your fields,” or “you had to struggle just to water your crops” (Contemporary English Version).

A land … which drinks water by the rain from heaven: in some languages there may be a problem in talking about the land “drinking” rain water; in such cases something like the following can be said: “a land with hills and valleys, which is watered by the rain” (or “which gets its water from the rains”); see verse 14 for more statements about the rains.

See Good News Translation for a good alternative model for verse 11.

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 12:12

You shall rejoice before the LORD: or “You shall celebrate there at the place for worshiping the LORD.”

Instead of the all-inclusive “your households” of verse 3, here the fuller statement appears: your sons and your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants.

The Levite: that is, “the Levites,” “members of the tribe of Levi,” or “descendants of the great ancestor Levi” (see 10.8-9; 18.1-2, for further statements).

Has no portion or inheritance with you: that is, the tribe of Levi, unlike the other tribes, will not be given its own territory (see 10.8-9 for no portion or inheritance). Other ways to express this are “The descendants of Levi will have no land of their own,” or “… will not be given their own territory [in which to live].”

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 13:18

There is a similar exhortation to this in 12.28.

It is a good idea to put a full stop at the end of verse 17 and begin verse 18 as a new sentence: “The LORD will do this if….”

Obey the voice … keeping all his commandments: the Hebrew structure is again the use of a main verb and a participial subordinate clause, for emphasis. For commandments see 4.2.

Which I command you this day: again the emphasis is on “today” (see 11.26, 28, 32).

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 15:17

An awl: the word appears only here and in Exo 21.6. It is a sharp, pointed tool, made of wood, bone, flint, or metal. Some conjecture that a metal tag was affixed to the pierced ear lobe of the slave.

Ear: the actual part referred to is the ear lobe.

Into the door: apparently the door of the master’s house (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). In some languages it will be necessary to make it clear that the slave must stand against or beside the door to provide a hard flat area for the owner to punch a clear hole through the ear (see a similar passage in Exo 21.6). So the first part of this verse may be expressed as follows:

• Then make him stand against [or, beside] the door of your house, and punch a hole through one of his ear lobes with an awl [or, a sharp piece of metal].

Bondman … bondwoman: better “male slave … female slave.”

Contemporary English Version combines the final two clauses in the following way: “such slaves will belong to you for life, whether they are men or women.”

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 17:13

The death sentence will be a most impressive object lesson.

Hear, and fear: when the people hear what has happened, they will be afraid (see 13.11).

And not act presumptuously again: that is, will not dare disobey the Law. Good News Translation has “and no one else will dare to act in such a way.” However, we may use a positive statement as Contemporary English Version does: “they will be afraid and obey the decisions of the court.”

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 19:12

The elders of his city: see 5.23. These are the town leaders, the authorities of the community where the killer lives.

Send and fetch him … and hand him over: again there are various stages in the process. The word send suggests that the elders commission some men to go and find and bring back the killer. In a more general sense send and fetch him can mean “shall have him brought back.”

The avenger of blood: see verse 6.

So that he may die: so that he may be put to death, be executed.

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 21:6

All the elders: as in verse 4.

Shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley: this repeats old information, which in some languages may not be very good style. It may be enough to say “shall wash their hands over the dead heifer” or “over the body of the dead cow.” By this means the town leaders are transferring to the dead animal any guilt that may have been laid on the people of Israel as a whole (see similar proceedings in Lev 16.20-22).

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 22:23

Verses 23-24 deal with another case, this one involving a woman who is engaged.

A betrothed virgin: to be betrothed meant that the marriage had already been agreed upon, and a bride-price had been paid by the groom to the woman’s parents. In Israel such people were regarded as already married. So in some languages this first sentence will be expressed as “Suppose a man is caught sleeping with a girl [or, young woman] for whom the bride-price has been paid by another man.”

Lies with her: that is, “Has intercourse with her.” As the next case shows (verses 25-27), it is assumed that she was a willing partner; she was not forced to have sex with the man.

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 .