complete verse (Deuteronomy 23:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 23:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “That man is to wash himself when afternoon reaches, and when the sun has set he is to return to inside the camp.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After he has stayed there until evening time, having bathed, after the sun sets, he can come inside the camp.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In-the-afternoon, he will-take-a-bath, and at sun set he now can-go-back to the camp.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But in the evening of that day, he must bathe himself, and at sunset he is allowed to come back into the camp.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 23:11

When evening comes on: that is, “in the late afternoon,” “before sunset.”

When the sun is down: meaning after sunset, when the next day begins, according to the Hebrew reckoning.

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 .