complete verse (Exodus 22:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 22:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “And/But if the father of the girl refuses that man to marry his daughter, that man will still give money which is equivalent to the dowry of a girl who is still a virgin.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If her father refused to give her to him, he must pay the bribe price (for virgins).” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If the father of the woman will- absolutely not -allow- his child/(daughter) -to-marry to that man, the man should- still -pay the (bride)-price.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But if the woman’s father doesn’t want that man to marry his daughter, then the two of them won’t marry, but that man must bring the bride-wealth objects to the woman’s father.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “If father will reject him let him not (imp.) her buy, one who lay with her, let him give money which be the same with money of her buying.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “But if her father refuses to allow her to marry him, he must pay to the woman’s father the amount of money that is equal to the amount of bride price money that men pay for virgins.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 22:17

If her father utterly refuses, literally “If [ʾim] refusing her father refuses,” uses the emphatic form of the verb. New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible have “If her father absolutely refuses.” To give her to him is literal, so Good News Translation changes it to “to let him marry her,” and Contemporary English Version has “refuses to let her marry the man.” One may also express this as “refuses to let him take her as his wife” or “refuses to give her to the man as his wife.”

He shall pay money is literally “he will weigh out silver,” but silver was also the term used for money. The amount of money is not specified, other than equivalent to the marriage present for virgins. (See the comment at verse 16.) “The bride price for a virgin” (Good News Translation) was evidently well known. It was probably less than the “fifty shekels of silver” mentioned in Deut 22.29, for that was the amount required in cases of rape. And this situation implies the willingness on the part of the virgin. (See verse 16.)

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .