complete verse (Deuteronomy 25:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 25:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “But the boy who is born first, he shall be named after the man whom the woman belonged to so that his name is not lost in Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The first son she bears to him will be considered the son of the dead brother. So that his name will continue to exist in Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Their first-born child will-be-considered as child of his sibling who died so-that his name will- not -be-lost/blotted-out from Israel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If she later gives birth to a son, that son is to be considered the son of the man who died, in order that the dead man’s name will not disappear from Israel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 25:6

The first son whom she bears: even though the Septuagint has “the first child,” translators should make it clear that this is a male child.

Shall succeed to the name of his brother who is dead: here, of course, his brother is the father’s brother. The meaning is that the baby boy will be given his (dead) uncle’s name, not the name of his actual father. Contemporary English Version has “and their first son will be the legal son of the dead man.”

His name may not be blotted out: that is, the family line or name of the dead man will not cease to exist (so Good News Translation), but continue in a normal way.

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 .