Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 29:17

Their detestable things: that is, their idols. The pronoun their very likely refers back to both Egypt and the nations in verse 16, so it is possible to combine the two verses as Contemporary English Version does (and see also the alternative model below). The Hebrew word translated detestable carries a sense of thoroughly disgusting, completely revolting. New Revised Standard Version has “their … detestable things, the filthy idols,” somewhat like Good News Translation “their disgusting idols.”

Idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold: see a similar statement in 4.28. For a comment on idols see 4.16.

Which were among them: this will be repetitive in many languages and may be deleted, as Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have done.

An alternative translation model combining verses 16 and 17 is the following:

• You know that when we lived in Egypt, you saw the Egyptians worship disgusting idols made of wood, stone, silver and gold. Then as you traveled through the lands of other nations, you saw those people worship other disgusting idols.

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 31:2

A hundred and twenty years old: the text states that Moses is 120 years old; it is not saying that this is his 120th birthday. In the book itself this is the day when Moses was giving this speech to the Israelites in the plains of Moab. Moses began the first of his addresses on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year after the Israelites left Egypt (1.3, 5).

I am no longer able to go out and come in: that is, “to lead an active life” or “to get about” (New Revised Standard Version). Some, like Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version, take it in the more restricted sense of “to lead,” but the broader sense seems preferable (see 28.6, 19).

You shall not go over this Jordan: this Jordan is natural style in Hebrew, but in many other languages translators will prefer something like “the Jordan River” or even “the Jordan River here in front of you.” This decision by the LORD is referred to in 1.37; 3.27; 4.21-22; and see Num 20.12 for the occasion when the LORD took this decision.

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 32:12

The LORD alone did lead him: here the figure changes from the LORD carrying his people on his wings to leading them on their way; him refers to the people of Israel. So we may translate “The LORD alone led his people” (Good News Translation), or “Israel, the LORD led you” (Contemporary English Version).

There was no foreign god with him: this verse emphasizes that Yahweh did this alone, without help from any pagan god—thereby proving that Israel belongs to him alone (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 32:47

It is no trifle for you, but it is your life: see 30.20. This emphasizes the seriousness of the matter; what Moses has taught the people is not something insignificant that they can take or leave. Their very existence as a people depends on their obedience to the Law. Contemporary English Version has a helpful model: “The Law isn’t empty words. It can give you long life….”

Thereby you shall live long in the land: see 30.20. Thereby means “by means of it” and refers to obeying the Law, and Good News Translation has “Obey them [the teachings] and you will live….”

Possess: see 1.8. For parallels see 4.26, 40.

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 33:29

Here end Moses’ words to the people of Israel.

Happy are you, O Israel! The translator must decide whether it is better to say “Israel” or “people of Israel.” Here happy has the meaning of “fortunate.” So “People of Israel, you are so fortunate” is a good alternative model.

Grammatically Revised Standard Version Who is like you … is a question, demanding a question mark at the end of the sentence. This is a rhetorical question whose answer is “No one.” It is better to render it as an emphatic declaration, “There is no other people like you…,” followed by the reasons for this affirmation. See a similar kind of statement in 4.7.

A people saved by the LORD: this can be a reference to their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, or more generally to their being protected and guarded by Yahweh during their forty years’ trek through the wilderness. If it is the latter we may say “Yahweh has continually protected you.”

The shield … the sword: a shield is a defensive weapon, a sword an offensive weapon. God both defended the Israelites and attacked their enemies. Some translators will prefer to use similes; for example, “Like a shield he protects you, and like a sword he kills your enemies.”

Your help: or “to help you,” that is, “to defend you.”

Your triumph: or “to win the victory for you.”

Shall come fawning to you: the form of this verb occurs only here in the Old Testament. It means to act submissively, or else to try to gain favor by flattery. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible translate “cringing.” Good News Translation has “begging for mercy,” and Contemporary English Version has “will bow in fear.”

Tread upon their high places: this can mean to walk triumphantly over their land (see “high places” in 32.13). The phrase can be understood to mean the pagan shrines of those people. But the opinion of most is that “their backs” is meant (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible; the Septuagint translates “their neck”).

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• People of Israel,
how fortunate you are!
The LORD has continually guarded you.
Like a shield he protects you,
and like a sword he kills your enemies.
Your enemies will come and beg you not to kill them,
but you will trample on their backs.

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 21:22

It will be helpful as at the beginning of other sections to begin with “Moses said to the people of Israel” or something similar.

A crime punishable by death: in today’s English jargon this is styled “a capital offense” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible).

He is put to death: the text does not say how. Presumably it is by stoning. In languages that do not use the passive voice, we may translate “they [people not named] put him to death.” However, in some languages the passive may be avoided through the use of a verb similar to “suffer”; for example, “If a man suffers death for….” It is possible to avoid the repetition in the Hebrew of this first sentence, with something like “If they have put to death [or, executed] a man who has committed a crime” (see Good News Translation).

Hang him on a tree: this can mean that he is hung by his neck to a tree. The Hebrew word may mean either “tree” or “wood” (that is, a stake, or a pole); see Josh 8.29; 10.26-27; 2 Sam 4.12. Probably impalement is meant; the dead body was fixed to a stake, or pole, driven into the ground. Good News Translation here is quite unsatisfactory.

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 3:12

At the beginning of this new section, Moses should be introduced once again as the speaker; for example, “Moses said to the people of Israel.”

When we took possession of the land at that time: it may be a good idea to say “the land east of the Jordan” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). The phrase at that time is frequently used (2.34; 3.4, 8, 18, 21, 23), but in the context it is quite redundant; it simply repeats the opening When.

I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites: it is better to say something like “I assigned to the tribes of Reuben and Gad,” or “I assigned to the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad.” For “tribe” see 1.13.

The territory beginning at Aroer: New Revised Standard Version is clearer, “the territory north of Aroer”; Today’s English Version helps by saying “north of the town of Aroer.”

Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon: so also 2.36; 4.48. Inasmuch as the Arnon is a river, it makes more sense in English, at least, to say “the Arnon River,” as Today’s English Version does (also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), rather than “the Wadi Arnon” (New Revised Standard Version; also New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible) or “the Arnon Gorge” (New International Version). Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje has “the valley of the Arnon River.”

Instead of on the edge of the valley, HOTTP prefers “on the gorge” (so also Contemporary English Version), since the phrase “the edge of” is not in the Hebrew text. But this phrase is present in 2.36 and 4.48, and on that basis a translator is justified in saying the same thing here; Aroer did not change location from one chapter to the next.

And half of the hill country of Gilead with its cities: New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible, like Today’s English Version, have “towns.” This is a reference to the part of Gilead south of the Jabbok River. Contemporary English Version has “and went far enough north to include the southern half of the Gilead region.”

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 1:32

Yet in spite of this word: that is, in spite of Moses’ speech reminding them how Yahweh had led and protected them all the way from Egypt. Other ways to express this are “But in spite of what I said” (Good News Translation) or “I said all these things, yet you still….”

You did not believe: this verb means, basically, “to be firm,” and means to trust in, to rely on, or to believe. New Jerusalem Bible has “you put no faith in,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “you have no faith in.” Driver points out that the verb in Hebrew is a participle, suggesting a continuous attitude, “you continued not believing.” Terms for believe in many languages are highly figurative; for example, “place one’s heart in” (Thai), “to conform with the heart” (Timorese), and so on. Other examples may be found in A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark, pages 38-39.

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 .