complete verse (Leviticus 15:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 15:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the flow of blood has stopped she must count seven days and after that that person has become clean.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After the bleeding stops, that woman must wait for seven days. Only then will she be clean.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If the woman has- already -been-healed from that coming-out/flowing blood from her, she must-wait seven days. On the eighth day, she must bring two doves or two pigeons to the priest there near the entrance of the Meeting-together-place Tent.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kutu: “When that woman has stopped her period, she should wait seven days so that she will be made holy, and when those seven days are finished she will be holy.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • English: “‘After a woman’s monthly menstrual flow ends, she must wait seven days before she touches anyone.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 15:28

This verse presents the same basic procedure as for the male in verse 13 above. However, there is no mention here of washing the woman’s clothing or of bathing (see the discussion on verse 13). Here it appears that the mere passage of time is sufficient to ensure ritual cleansing.

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 .