complete verse (Deuteronomy 14:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 14:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “You may eat anything that has wings and is clean.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But it is OK for you to eat any clean bird that has wings.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But you (plur.) can eat the animals that fly that are-considered clean.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But other insects with wings and which hop along the ground are acceptable to eat.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 14:19 - 14:20

All winged insects … winged things: both verses deal with flying insects (see also Lev 11.21-23). The Hebrew word in verse 20 appears some seventy times in the Old Testament and is a collective term for “flying creatures,” which includes both insects and birds. In this context, however, it is highly unlikely that birds should suddenly appear in verse 20, and it is recommended that “winged [or, flying] insects” be used in both verses.

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 .