bear child / give birth

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)

See also in childbirth / travail and birth.

complete verse (Leviticus 12:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 12:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “Tell the people of Israel that when a woman has given birth and the child was a boy, that woman will remain unclean for seven days like those days of the month (monthly period).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When a pregnant woman becomes untouchable by giving birth to a son, [she] will be unclean for seven days. just as she is unclean during her monthly period.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “to tell this to the Israelinhon:
    If a woman has-given-birth to a male, she will-be-considered dirty/unclean for/[lit. inside of] seven days, just-like when she has her monthly-period.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Tell this to the Israeli people: ‘If a woman gives birth to a son, she must be avoided for seven days, like she must be avoided when she is menstruating each month.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 12:1 - 12:2

Said to Moses: see 4.1.

Say to the people …: see 1.2.

If a woman conceives, and bears a male child: the Hebrew language often uses expressions like this, putting together two verbs where the first one indicates the beginning of a process and the second one describes the main action. This type of construction is not normal in many languages, since the first verb is implied by the second. A woman cannot give birth unless she has first conceived. So the verb “conceive” may be left implicit in many languages. The verb translated bears literally means “brings forth seed.” Since each language has its own way of referring to childbirth, the translator must look for the most natural way of expressing this idea to a group of readers or hearers composed of men, women, and children.

In some languages it will be much more natural to say “a son,” as in Good News Translation, in place of a male child, but in others the expression may be just like Revised Standard Version. The Hebrew actually only says “a male,” leaving the word “child” implicit.

Seven days: since the number seven has special significance (see 4.6), some translators may wish to retain it in translation, but in some cases it may be necessary to say “a week,” because that is much more natural.

As: this word indicates a comparison between the uncleanness of the woman at childbirth with the uncleanness at the time of her monthly period of menstruation. The similarity involves both the amount of time required and the consequences of the woman’s uncleanness.

At the time of her menstruation: literally “in the days of her separation for her weakness.” The experience described here is common to women in every culture all over the world. But the way of talking about it varies widely from one language to another, because it is a very private matter. Some of the ways that this idea is expressed in other cultures are “to cause blood to flow,” “to see blood,” “to see the moon,” “to have the sickness of women,” and “to be avoided.” The translator must be sure that the words chosen in the receptor language are natural, understandable, and suitable to the context of regulations concerning cleanness and uncleanness.

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 .