Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 4:30

When you are in tribulation: “When you are in trouble,” “When you are suffering [or, being mistreated].” This still refers to their exile.

All these things come upon you: these things are their deportation, their loss of freedom, and eventual idolatry.

In the latter days: in some contexts this phrase has the technical sense of the time when God will intervene forcibly into human affairs and establish his rule over the world (the Septuagint translation favors this interpretation). Here, however, it is more likely that the phrase refers to a decisive turning point in the future (see Ezek 38.8, 16; Hos 3.5). Revised English Bible has “in days to come”; Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “finally.” It should be noted that this phrase goes with what is before, not with what follows.

You will return to the LORD your God: they will once more acknowledge Yahweh as their God and worship and serve him alone. Contemporary English Version has “you may finally decide that you want to worship only the LORD.”

Obey his voice: the verb can be translated “hear” or “listen to”; here “hear” means to heed, or obey.

It is possible to combine verses 29 and 30 as follows:

• When you are there [or, in that land] and the time comes when you will endure all kinds of trouble, you may then decide to turn back to the LORD your God and obey him. If at that time you pray to him wholeheartedly, he will answer you [or, come and help you].

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 5:19

Neither shall you steal: some commentators believe that the primary, if not exclusive, force of this command had to do with kidnaping, that is, taking a fellow Israelite by force. But this is contested, and the prohibition here has to do with taking something belonging to someone else without their permission.

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 6:22 - 6:23

The LORD showed signs and wonders: this refers to the great miracles, that is, the plagues that God sent on Egypt (Exo 7.14–10.29). The Hebrew verb “to give” (Revised Standard Version showed) in this context means “to do” or “to perform.” For signs and wonders see 4.34 (also 7.19).

Great and grievous: this emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the plagues and their destructive effect. New Revised Standard Version has “great and awesome.” These adjectives describe signs and wonders. So it is possible to translate, for example, “performed marvelous things [or, things that make people astonished] and did horrible [or, horrifying] things to the Egyptians.”

Pharaoh and all his household: this means, as Good News Translation has it, the king and all his officials (not just his family); none of them escaped Yahweh’s fury.

Before our eyes: the Israelites were eyewitnesses of the plagues that God sent on Egypt; and generations later, in the land of Canaan, an Israelite father would think of himself as part of the generation that was set free from Egypt (see the similar creedal confession in 26.5-10). Some translators will wish to place this clause at the beginning of the verse; for example, “With our own eyes we saw him [Yahweh] do…” (Good News Translation).

In verse 23, as in verse 18, the sense is that Yahweh swore to the ancestors, that is, the patriarchs, that he would give the land of Canaan to the people who are now about to take possession of it (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible). It will be helpful to begin a new sentence at verse 23; for example, “The LORD rescued us from Egypt….”

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 8:5

Know then in your heart: to “know in the heart” means to be aware of, to realize, or to be convinced about. See the comment on a similar word at 4.39 and 7.9.

As a man disciplines his son: the inclusive plural may be adopted; see Good News Translation “Remember that the LORD your God corrects and punishes you … just as parents discipline their children”; New Revised Standard Version has “as a parent disciplines a child.” Given the culture of the time, however, the exclusive “father” and “son” may be more appropriate in certain languages.

The verb discipline may mean to correct or punish, or to train or teach. The second option seems preferable here (see 4.36).

For the LORD your God see 1.6.

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 9:25

This refers back to what he had already said (verse 18). Moses lay face down on the ground in the LORD’s presence for forty days.

Because the LORD had said he would destroy you: God threatened to do to the Israelites what he had promised them he would do to the peoples of Canaan.

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 11:12

A land which the LORD your God cares for: here the verb translated cares for means “takes care of,” “oversees,” or “superintends.”

The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it: this is a picturesque way of saying that the LORD always watches over the land, to protect it. Contemporary English Version says “the LORD your God keeps his eyes on this land.” For the LORD your God see 1.6.

From the beginning of the year to the end of the year: an emphatic way of saying “always,” “all the time,” “through all seasons.”

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 12:13

The command is repeated in verses 13-14 and expressed in a very precise way. There will be one place where the people are to offer their sacrifices to Yahweh; they must not offer them anywhere else.

Every place that you see: this means “any place you might choose.”

Here, and in verse 14, only your burnt offerings are mentioned; the others are not named, but they are understood to be included. So we may translate “You must not offer sacrifices just anywhere you want to,” or even “You must not slaughter animals and offer them to Yahweh just….”

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 14:1

Since this seems to be a separate matter, it is recommended that translators start with something like “Moses said to the people of Israel.”

You are the sons of the LORD your God: that is, “… the children [or, sons and daughters] of Yahweh,” the covenant community. For the LORD your God see 1.6.

The last phrase of the verse, for the dead, modifies the two verbs cut and make. So it is better to place it first, as Good News Translation does: “So when you mourn for the dead…,” or “when you show sorrow for the dead [or, people who have died].”

Cut yourselves: this refers to gashes and cuts that were made by followers of some religions and cults as part of mourning for the dead.

Make any baldness on your forehead: New Revised Standard Version is somewhat better, “shave your forelocks.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, however, is best: “shave the front of your heads” (as also 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 .