complete verse (Leviticus 15:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 15:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Anything that this woman has been lying on or sat on during the days of the month (period) that thing is unclean.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’All the places where she sits or sleeps will be unclean. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Anything which she lies-on or sits-on during her monthly-period, will-become dirty/unclean.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “No one should touch anything that she lies on or sits on during that time.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 15:20

This verse corresponds to verse 4 concerning men, but it is not a word-for-word repetition. (Compare also verse 26.) Note that Good News Translation has restructured and simplified this verse.

During her impurity: that is, during her time of menstruation. See the discussion under “a discharge of blood” in the previous verse.

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 .