The phrases that are translated as “clean animals” and “unclean animals” in English: The first draft into Maan had “animals not cursed” and “cursed animals,” which did not express correctly the idea of ritually pure and impure animals. So it was changed to “animals accepted by God for sacrifices” and “animals not accepted by God for sacrifices.”
In Kwere it is translated as animals “which are eaten” vs. “which are not eaten”. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 7:2:
- Kankanaey: “Also cause-to-enter (you-pl) those-who-pair-together among all kinds of animals which are counted/considered as filthy. As for those which are counted/considered as clean by-contrast, cause-to-enter seven-each that pair-together.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Newari: “Bring along seven pairs of animals, male and female, all clean, and only one pair of unclean animals.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] bring/[take] seven pairs of every kind of clean animals, but only one pair of every kind of not clean animal.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “Take with you seven pairs of every kind of animal that I have said I will accept for sacrifices. Take seven males and seven females. Also take a male and a female from every kind of animal that I have said that I will not accept for sacrifices.” (Source: Translation for Translators)