complete verse (Leviticus 15:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 15:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “And any cloth or skin which the semen has touched needs to be washed and that thing is unclean until sunset.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Cloth or leather on which semen falls must be completely washed with water, and it will be unclean until evening time.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Any clothing or things that was made from leather on which the semen falls must be washed, but it is still considered dirty/unclean until (it) becomes-twilight/dusk.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed, and no one should touch it until that evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 15:17

Every garment and every skin: the Good News Translation rendering is much more natural in English, but other languages may be closer to the original as reflected in Revised Standard Version.

Comes: the verb may be rendered “falls” (Good News Translation) or “comes in contact,” but in other languages “touches” may be better.

Be washed with water: this will be considered redundant in many languages and can be reduced simply to “washed.” See 1.9.

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 .