complete verse (Deuteronomy 13:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 13:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “but a person like that must be killed. You are the one to begin to beat/hit that person and then all people may come to finish (him/it).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Kill that person! The person who heard his words must be the first to throw the stones to kill him. Then, later all the people must throw stones.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He must be-put-to-death. You (sing.) are the first to stone (him) to kill him, and then all the people.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Execute them! You who are their relative must be the first one to throw stones at them to kill them, and then let everyone else throw stones at them, too.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 13:9

You shall kill him: the Hebrew uses a compound verbal phrase, “killing you shall kill him.” This is a way of being emphatic: “You must certainly kill him.” How this is to be done follows.

Your hand shall be first: this is to be a public execution, with the person who was enticed taking the lead. He will be the first to throw the stones, and then the others will do the same. It may be necessary to make it clear in verse 9 itself that public execution by stoning is meant, as Good News Translation does with “Kill him! Be the first to stone him, and then let everyone else stone him too.”

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 .