11You must carry out the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left.
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 17:11:
Kupsabiny: “You must do according to what has been decided. Do not deviate at all from the word/decision that you have been told to do.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “You are to act in accordance with the way they have interpreted the laws and settled the matter. Do not turn away from what they say either to the right or to the left.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Whatever decision- they -came-up according to the law, you (plur.) should follow. You (plur.) do not disobey what they will-say to you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Accept what they have decided, and do what they say that you should do. Do not try to change in any way what they have decided.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Yucateco as “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198), and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
McKnight’s English translation (publ. 2023) has it as Covenant Code. He explains (p. 301): “The law of Moses was a covenantal arrangement by God with the people of Israel. This code of conduct expected of them was not the same as law in the Roman world or what law means to us today. It is a revelation of God’s will for God’s covenant people but requires ongoing interpretation and adjustments.”
Again the verse repeats what has already been said.
According to the instructions which they give you: this matches “they declare” in verse 10.
According to the decrees which they pronounce to you: this matches “they direct you” in verse 10. It means the decision the judge makes in any given case. The Hebrew is rather wordy and repetitive. Translators must decide whether such repetition is acceptable in their language, or whether to summarize as some translations have done; for example, Good News Translation has “accept their verdict and follow their instructions in every detail,” and Contemporary English Version is more concise, with “Do exactly what they tell you.”
You shall not turn aside, either to the right hand or to the left: see 5.32. The meaning of this figure of speech is quite clear; it means to carry out all instructions strictly, to the last detail, without neglecting anything.
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 .
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