Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 27:26

This is a summary statement, bringing the twelve curses to a close.

Confirm … by doing them: a better expression of the sense is New Revised Standard Version: “uphold … by obeying them.” By obeying these regulations the Israelite would prove that he upheld or obeyed the laws. The substance of this verse is quoted by Paul in Gal 3.10.

The words of this law: see verse 3.

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 28:41

They shall not be yours … they shall go into captivity: the meaning is clear; while still young and living at home, their sons and daughters will be snatched from them by the enemy and taken away as prisoners of war.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• You will have sons and daughters, but your enemies will take them away as prisoners.

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 29:10

In Revised Standard Version verses 10-13 are one long sentence. As elsewhere, in many languages the text should be broken up into several sentences.

This day means “Today,” as often in the book.

You stand … all of you before the LORD your God: the sense is as in Good News Translation, “you are standing in the presence of the LORD your God.” This is the general statement; then, for emphasis, the various groups of people are named. Before the LORD your God means “in this place where Yahweh is present,” or “in the LORD’s presence” (Contemporary English Version).

The heads of your tribes: the leaders of the twelve tribes. Revised Standard Version‘s textual footnote is unnecessary. The Hebrew “your heads your tribes” means simply “your tribal leaders,” as New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates it.

For elders see 5.23; for officers see 1.15.

All the men of Israel: they are mentioned first, and the women and children are listed in the next verse as belonging to them or being related to them. A possible alternative model for this verse for this verse may be:

• Today all of you are standing here in the LORD’s presence, including your leaders and officials….

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 30:16

If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God: as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, this is not in the Hebrew text but in the Septuagint; it is endorsed by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project ({B} rating, stating that the omission is due to a scribal error), and is followed by Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible. Some translations, like New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, follow the Hebrew text in not including the clause. It is recommended that translators follow the Septuagint with a textual footnote as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation do.

Which I command you this day: as in other parts of the book, the day when Moses was giving that discourse (his third speech) in the plains of Moab.

By loving … walking … keeping: this is how the Israelites were to obey God’s law.

Loving the LORD your God: in 6.5 it was stressed that this kind of “love” contains not only the elements of liking and affection, but also devotion and loyalty. If translators cannot find a term that contains all these elements, an expression such as “Love and be loyal [or, faithful] to the LORD” may be required.

The two participial phrases, by walking in his ways and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, are parallel and have a similar meaning. However, if at all possible translators should retain both expressions. In a number of languages a figurative expression similar to by walking in his ways may be used. An example is “walking along his paths,” meaning “to live your life the way he has told you.” By keeping his commandments means “obeying all his laws and teachings.” For commandments, statutes, and ordinances see 4.1, 2.

You shall live and multiply: that is, they will increase in number. Good News Translation offers a good model: “you will prosper and become a nation of many people.”

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 32:6

Requite the LORD: the verb requite means to repay or to pay back; so Revised English Bible says “is this how you repay the LORD?” In a more general sense “how you treat the LORD” is a possibility (similarly Good News Translation).

Foolish and senseless: two terms almost the same in meaning; other possibilities are “stupid,” “dull,” “witless.” The sense of “ignorant” is not primary; it is not a lack of information but a lack of good judgment—even being stupid. So Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje has “a people without any good sense or wisdom.” The first two lines may be reversed as follows:

• You are foolish and stupid people,
Is this the way you repay the LORD?

The second question is also an accusation.

Your father, who created you: the verb created means to “bring into being,” to “give life.” It is different from the verb used in Gen 1.1, but it is the same verb used in Gen 4.1, where it is said to be the origin of the name “Cain” (see also Exo 15.16); so New Revised Standard Version has “the people whom you have acquired.” But if the equivalent of the verb “acquire” is used, care must be taken that it is not understood as a purchase, with a price paid to someone, as the New International Version footnote “who bought you” suggests. This Handbook recommends that translators use the word “create” or “Creator” in the text (with Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and New International Version), with a footnote saying, for example, “Or Father, who acquired you.”

Who made you and established you: the verb “make” is the one most generally used of making something; to “establish” means to make secure or strong. The text is talking about how God made the people of Israel into a nation, a people of his own; this happened when he brought them out of Egypt. So Good News Translation has “he made you into a nation.” Translators are advised to follow Good News Translation as a model for this verse.

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 32:39

Verses 39-42 are a single unit of poetry in which God vows to punish the enemies of the Israelites; they are his enemies, too.

See now that I, even I, am he: see 4.35, 39. The Hebrew text says “I, I [am] he,” which the Septuagint translates by “I am.” This is a reference to the name of God, emphasizing the fact that only Yahweh is God. So Bible en français courant translates “Recognize, therefore, I alone am able to save. There is no other god but me.” BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum has “Pay attention! I am the only God, and there is no other God like me”; and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “I am the only God; there are no other gods besides me.” Contemporary English Version has “Don’t you understand? I am the only God; there are no others.”

I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal: his power for hurting and for helping is absolute, and none can stop him when he decides to act.

There is none that can deliver out of my hand: God says that there is no one who can save someone he has decided to punish. The absolute none would include not only human beings but angelic and divine beings as well; so Good News Translation has “no one can oppose what I do,” and Contemporary English Version “and nothing can stop me.”

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 33:23

Satisfied with and full of mean exactly the same thing, as do favor and the blessing of the LORD. New International Version does a good job of combining the various elements: “Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD, and is full of his blessing.”

In some cases it will be better to change and make Naphtali the object of Yahweh’s action: “The LORD has been good to [the tribe of] Naphtali, and has poured out his blessings on him [or, them].” However, in a number of languages translators will need to make the meaning of blessing clear; for example:

• About the people of the tribe of Naphtali he said,
“Yahweh has been very kind to you
and given you many good things….”

Possess the lake and the south: some translations use the indicative mood (Good News Translation “their land reaches to”; also Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), but it seems better to retain the imperative.

The lake translates the Hebrew word “the sea,” which also bears the meaning “west.” Since the territory of the tribe of Naphtali was west of Lake Galilee, “the sea” would be Lake Galilee itself. It is recommended that the following serve as a model: “Take possession of territory to the west and to the south of your land” (so Bible en français courant).

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 17:14

As at the beginning of other sections, it will be helpful to start this section with something like “Moses said to the people of Israel.”

The Hebrew sentence extends into the next verse, and in many instances it will have to be divided into two or more sentences. These are instructions on how the people are to proceed, should the time come when they want a king. So Bible en français courant has “Perhaps you will want to have a king….”

Come to the land … possess it and dwell in it: these are three distinct stages in the process of crossing the Jordan River, conquering the land, and settling down in the Canaanite towns and villages.

The land which the LORD your God gives you: everything the Israelites do is a consequence of God’s action. This is the note that is always struck. They are constantly reminded of the fact that the land of Canaan is God’s gift to them.

And then say, ‘I will set a king…’: if the direct quotation is awkward or unnatural in a given language, it may be better to go to indirect discourse, “and then you decide that you want a king to rule you” (see Good News Translation). For king see 1.4.

As always, the Hebrew text for you and I is singular for both pronouns; the people are addressed as though they were an individual. It will be necessary in most cases to use the plural: “say, ‘We want a king’ ” (if direct discourse is used), or “decide that you [plural] want a king” (if indirect discourse is preferred).

I will set a king over me: the verb set means “to place”; in this context “to choose” seems better than “to appoint” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible). Or else we may say “You will want to have a king to rule over you” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum), or, more simply, “you will want to have a king” (Bible en français courant).

All the nations that are round about me: this is more simply and clearly expressed as “all the surrounding [or, neighboring] nations.”

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 .