complete verse (Exodus 23:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 23:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “Be (plur.) cultivating your gardens/fields and be harvesting your food crops for six years,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Sow and reap your crops for six years.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘For six years you (plur.) can-plant and harvest on your (plur.) land.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “‘For a duration of six years, you (pl.) will plant your food in the garden and be taking your ripe food from the garden also.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “«you (sing., imp.) cut field your for years six.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Plant seeds in your ground and gather the harvest for six years.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exodus 23:10

For six years is literally “And six years.” The idea is for the duration of six years. You shall sow your land uses the singular you, so your land refers to “the fields” (New International Version), or the portion of land, for which each Israelite was responsible. Sow your land means to plant seed and cultivate the soil. And gather its yield means to “harvest the crops,” or whatever that land “produces” (Good News Translation).

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 .