the poor

The Hebrew that is translated as “the poor” in English is translated in Chichewa as “people without power.” In Chichewa context this refers to those who are in the lower class in terms of both social status and political influence in a community. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

In Cherokee it is translated as “those who are not doing well.” “The concept of poverty was unknown to Cherokee prior to European arrival due to the sharing of resources among clan members and the shared and welfare tradition known as gadugi (ᎦᏚᎩ). In contrast, the concepts of rich and poor play a large role in the world and message or the New Testament (…) This phrase (‘those who are not doing well’), still used today for ‘poor,’ speaks to a more general understanding of well-being than the presence of monetary resources.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 45)

See also poor (Ps. 41:1).

complete verse (Deuteronomy 24:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 24:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not squeeze/put pressure on a poor person who has been hired or owns nothing whether he is a person of Israel or a foreigner who is in your cities.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not take advantage of a day laborer, who is needy and does not get to eat, whether he is your Israelite brother or a foreigner living in any of your towns.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘You (plur.) do- not -take-advantage of a poor worker, either he is an Israelite or non-Israelite who lives in your (plur.) town.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘o not mistreat any servants whom you have hired who are poor and needy , whether they are Israelis or foreigners who are living in your town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 24:14

Oppress: the ordinary meaning is “mistreat,” “treat harshly,” “abuse,” “exploit.” Here, however, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands the Masoretic Hebrew text to mean “you shall not exert any pressure [by means of] the wages of a poor man.” Revised English Bible translates this meaning with “keep back the wages of a poor man,” and Contemporary English Version “don’t hold back their pay.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy gives both meanings: “exploit or keep back the wages.” Should a translator decide to follow the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, Revised English Bible and Contemporary English Version offer good models to follow.

A hired servant: a person who works for pay, usually on a daily basis (as the next verse makes clear).

Your brethren: that is, your fellow-Israelites (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

The sojourners who are in your land within your towns: for sojourners, “alien residents,” see 1.16. It is enough to say simply “the foreigners [or, non-Israelites] who live in your land.”

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 .