complete verse (Deuteronomy 19:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 19:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then other people will hear those words, and then (they) will fear if they say a bad word that falsely accuses another person.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Hearing this report, people will be afraid, and such evil deeds will never be done among you again.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The one- who-will-hear about it will-be-afraid and no one will- ever -do again this wicked deed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And/Because when that person is punished, everyone will hear what has happened, and they will be afraid, and no one will dare to act that way any more.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 19:20

This verse is almost exactly the same as 17.13; see also 13.1.

Never again commit any such evil: here the standard Hebrew word for “crime” or “wrongdoing” is used. So we may say “and no one will ever again commit this crime.”

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 .