complete verse (Leviticus 13:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 13:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a man or woman has a wound on the head or the chin,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If any man or woman has a disease on the head or in the chin,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a person has a sign of a dangerous disease on the skin on his head or chin,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If a man or a woman has a sore on his head or on his chin,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 13:29

Verses 29-37 concern sores on the chin under the hair of the beard and on top of the head.

A disease on the … beard: many English versions prefer to use the term “chin” in place of beard (Good News Translation, New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible and others). New American Bible has “on the cheek.” The word used may mean either “chin” or beard, but in this context it seems to refer to a disease on the skin underneath the hair on the chin. Since women are specifically mentioned in this verse, it is probably better to use the word for “chin” in those languages where the hair on the chin of a woman would not be considered a beard. The expression “in the beard” is used by New Jerusalem Bible. The exact expression will depend on how the receptor language normally speaks of such skin problems.

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 .