complete verse (Deuteronomy 23:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 23:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not harass the people of Edom, because they are your kin. And again, do not harass the people of Egypt, because you lived in their country as foreigners.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not, however, despise the Edomites. They are your brothers. Do not despise any Egyptian. For previously you were living as foreigners in their land.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Do- not -abhor/detest the Edomnon, for they are your (plur.) blood-relative. Do- not also -abhor/detest the Egiptohanon, for you (plur.) had-lived before in their land as strangers/aliens/foreigners.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘But do not despise anyone from the Edom people-group, because they are descendants of your ancestor Jacob, just like you are. And do not despise people from Egypt, because they treated your ancestors well when they first lived in Egypt.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 23:7

Abhor: this verb is related to the noun which in 22.5 is translated “abomination” (see the verb and the noun in 7.25-26). Good News Translation has “Do not despise.” We may also say “Do not look down on [or, treat with contempt].” Contemporary English Version has the positive command, “You must be kind to….”

An Edomite … is your brother: the Edomites were descended from Esau, also called Edom (Gen 36.1), the brother of Jacob, who was the ancestor of the Israelites. Brother here means “relative.” In most languages “they are your relatives” (Good News Translation) will be natural style.

An Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land: until the time of Moses, when the ruling king made them do hard labor, the Israelites were resident aliens in Egypt and were well treated. The Contemporary English Version translation “you lived as foreigners in the country of Egypt” is a helpful model.

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 .