complete verse (Leviticus 14:45)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 14:45:

  • Kupsabiny: “The house is to be torn down and the stones, wood and all the soil of the house are to be taken and brought to an unclean place outside the town.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The house must be torn down completely, and, taking all these rocks, wood and clay to a unclean place outside the city, throw them away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So this house is-to-be-destroyed/torn-down and its materials are-to-be-thrown-(away) outside of the city, there in the place where-is-thrown-(away) the things which are-considered dirty/unclean.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “It must be completely torn down—the stones, the timber and the plaster—and all those things must be thrown into a dump outside the town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 14:45

He shall break down the house: again, the third person singular pronoun is impersonal and indefinite. It does not refer to the priest. The expression is translated as a passive in New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New English Bible. In those languages without passives an impersonal “they” may be the best rendering.

He shall carry …: or “it must be carried…,” or “they must carry….” As above, the subject is impersonal.

An unclean place: see verse 40. Compare also “a clean place” in 6.11.

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 .