wild animal

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “wild animal” or similar is translated in Newari as “animal that lives in the jungle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

complete verse (Leviticus 17:15)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “If a person of Israel or a foreigner has eaten an animal which has died by itself only or if a wild animal has killed it, he must wash its legs and bathe and he shall be unclean until sunset.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’If any Israelite or [any] foreigner eats the flesh of an animal that was killed by wild animals or died its own death, he must wash his clothes, bathe his whole body with water, and be unclean until evening time. Then after that he will be clean. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Any one/[lit. whoever] of you (plur.) who eats an animal that just died or was- killed by another animal, he must launder his clothes and bathe, but he is- still -to-be- considered dirty/unclean until twilight/dusk.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Anyone in Israel, including foreigners, who eats any of the meat of any creature that is found dead, or that had been killed by wild animals, must wash his clothes and bathe. Then he must not touch anyone until that evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 17:15

What dies of itself or what is torn by beasts: literally “a dead body or a torn (animal).” The first term refers to an animal that has died a natural death, and the second to one attacked and killed by another animal. In either case the blood of the dead animal would not have been properly drained, and so the meat could not be eaten.

A native or a sojourner: see 16.29, where the second term is different but the meaning is the same. In this context these terms actually qualify “any person” at the beginning of the verse. Good News Translation and many other versions therefore shift them to a position earlier in the verse so that their function is clearer.

Wash his clothes: see 11.25.

Bathe himself in water: see 15.5.

Be unclean until the evening: see 15.24.

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 .