tithe

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “tithe” in English (which etymologically has the meaning of “the tenth”) is translated in Mokole as “(give) the tenth part.” This is the translation that most languages use that don’t use a specialized term like English does. See also complete verse (Hebrews 7:4) et al.

Source for Mokole: Hilary Deneufchâtel.

complete verse (Deuteronomy 14:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 14:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “And when the third year has ended take your food and place it in storage in your cities and when that has been done,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At the end of every three years put the whole tithe of that year’s harvest in a storeroom of the city.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘At the end of every three years, you (plur.) gather the tenths of your (plur.) produce of that-particular year, and bring them to its store-house in your (plur.) towns.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘t the end of every three years, bring a tithe of all your crops that have been produced/harvested in that year and store it in your towns.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 14:28

The tithe every third year is not in addition to the annual one of verses 22-26, but a different use of the tithe in that year, given for the support of the Levites and other needy people in the community. For a more elaborate statement of this tithe, see 26.12-15.

At the end of every three years: stated more succinctly and naturally this is “every third year” (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version). The time would be after all the crops had been harvested.

You shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce: see the similar language in verse 22. Bring forth is completed by lay it up, that is, “take and deposit [or, store].”

In the same year: New Revised Standard Version is better, “You shall bring out the full tithe of your produce for that year.”

Lay it up within your towns: it is probable that there was a central deposit of some kind where all the produce was stored for distribution to the needy people in the community.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for this verse:

• Every third year, instead of using the ten percent of your harvest for a big celebration, bring it into town and put it in a community storehouse.

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 .