Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 15:3

This verse makes it clear that the law applies only to Israelites; foreigners must pay their debts, as usual (see similar discrimination in 23.20). Another way to say this is “You may collect money that a foreigner owes you.”

Whatever of yours is with your brother: that is, whatever a fellow-Israelite owes you; that debt must be forgiven.

Your brother: your fellow-Israelite.

Your hand shall release: this is an idiomatic way of saying “you must cancel [or, forgive].” The most common verb used for the cancellation of debts should be chosen.

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 16:17

Every man shall give as he is able: this verse is like verse 10.

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 18:19

Whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name: Contemporary English Version expresses the sense better with “Since the message comes from me, anyone who doesn’t obey the message will….”

I myself will require it of him: see similar statements in Gen 9.5; Ezek 33.6; 34.10. It means that God will hold that person responsible. New Jerusalem Bible has “will have to render an account to me,” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “I myself will call him to account,” and Revised English Bible “I shall call that person to account.” This “calling to account,” of course, means punishment (see 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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 20:12

But if it makes no peace … but makes war: these are the negative and the positive aspects of the same action. If it is not unnatural to use both forms in a given language, they should be used, for emphasis. An alternative way of expressing these two clauses is “But if the people of that city will not accept your offer of peace, but decide to fight you….” Instead of it, the town, it may be better to say “the inhabitants,” or “the people who live there.”

Besiege it: this means to put troops around the walls of the town, and to use devices to break through the walls, or to climb over them, so that the attackers can enter the town (see further at verse 19). In some languages translators will need to use a descriptive phrase; for example, “then have your fighting men surround the town and attack it.”

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 22:6 - 22:7

The underlying purpose in these instructions is not just humanitarian concern for other forms of life, but the preservation of a food source. A mother bird will lay more eggs and produce more young.

That it may go well with you, and that you may live long: this probably means more than a long life as such. It means the people will live for many generations in the Promised Land (see discussion at 6.2). Good News Translation gives a helpful model for this verse; so also does Contemporary English Version: “… Let her go free, and the LORD will bless you with a long and successful life.”

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 23:16

He shall dwell: this verse repeats in a positive way the negative command of the previous verse. But the whole statement is quite wordy, and a translation may choose to abbreviate it somewhat. Good News Translation, however, seems too brief.

You shall not oppress him: the verb means “to treat harshly,” “to mistreat,” “to be cruel to.”

The first part of this verse may be alternatively rendered as “Instead, you must let him choose which one of your towns he wants to live in….”

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 26:6

The Egyptians treated us harshly: Contemporary English Version has “were cruel and had no pity on us.” By a dramatic shift to the first person plural us, the Israelite becomes part of the events that had taken place centuries before.

Treated us harshly, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: again three terms that are similar in meaning are used to stress the cruel oppression they suffered in Egypt (see Exo 1.8-14). Contemporary English Version uses four verbs: “The Egyptians were cruel and had no pity on us. They abused our people and forced us into slavery.” Good News Translation uses two verbs, combining the last two. An alternative model is:

• The Egyptians treated us harshly and made us do hard labor [or, work very hard] until our spirits [or hearts, or livers] were sore [or, broken].

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 27:23

This prohibition is not found elsewhere in Deuteronomy; see Lev 18.8; 20.14.

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 .