complete verse (Leviticus 11:47)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 11:47:

  • Kupsabiny: “You must know that clean and unclean things are not the same and those that you can eat and those that cannot be eaten (are not the same).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You must distinguish living creatures that are clean and that are unclean, that are OK to eat and that are not OK to eat.’"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “you (plur.) will-know which of them (are) the clean (ones) and the dirty/unclean (ones), the-(ones-that) may be-eaten and the-(ones-that) may not be-eaten.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You must learn what things I say are acceptable to me and what things are not, and learn what things you are permitted to eat and what things you are not permitted to eat.’’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 11:47

Good News Translation provides one way of understanding the purpose clause at the beginning of this verse. New American Bible follows the same interpretation with “that you may distinguish…” (likewise Moffatt). New International Version has “You must distinguish….” However, another way of understanding the text is to see the implied subject as the “laws” mentioned in the previous verse. The translation will then read “These laws help you to distinguish between what is ritually clean and unclean…” (see Bible en français courant). Similarly, New Jerusalem Bible has “Its [the law’s] purpose is to separate the clean and the unclean….” But the essential meaning is not really different. These laws enable the people of Israel to make the important distinction between what is clean and unclean.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .