complete verse (Leviticus 14:42)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 14:42:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, other stones are to replace those torn down and the scraped walls are to be plastered again.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he must close it by putting [lit.: bringing] new stones in the wall, and [he] must plaster the wall again [lit.: smear the wall with plaster again].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then he is-to-have-(them)-change/replace the parts of the wall that were-taken-(away).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the owner must get new/other stones to replace the ones that had mildew on them, and take new clay and plaster to cover the stones in the walls of the house.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 14:42

Those stones: that is, the stones that had been thrown into the unclean place.

He: the use of the singular pronoun in the last part of this verse has led some to suggest that the priest himself was required to put the new plaster (or mud) on the walls. But this is unlikely. This is probably another case of the third person singular pronoun being used to refer to some unknown person.

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 .