complete verse (Deuteronomy 8:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 8:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “When it happens that you get things to eat until you are satisfied and you build houses that are beautiful which you live/stay in,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Otherwise, when you are satisfied, and are building beautiful houses,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When you (plur.) can- now eat -whatever- you (plur.) -want and can- now -build fine/[lit. good] houses to live-in” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When your stomachs are full every day, and when you have built good houses and are living in them,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 8:12

Lest refers back to “Take heed lest…” at the beginning of verse 11, and also connects with the beginning of verse 14 “… then your hearts be lifted up.” This calls for restructuring, and translations such as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje can serve as good models. Good News Translation, for example, doesn’t use the archaic lest but begins verse 14 with “be sure,” echoing “Make certain” at the beginning of verse 11. See the alternative model at the end of verse 14.

When you have eaten points forward to the clause “then your heart be lifted up” (beginning of verse 14). For eaten and are full Good News Translation has “You have all you want to eat,” and Contemporary English Version has “have plenty to eat.”

Goodly houses: “fine houses” (New Revised Standard Version) is today’s English; “beautiful” or “magnificent” are other possibilities.

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 .