complete verse (Leviticus 17:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 17:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “And if he does not do that, he shall meet with his matters (consequences) of his sin.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he does not wash his clothes and if he does not bathe, the guilt for the sin he committed will fall on him"’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If he does- not -launder his clothes and he does- not -bathe, he will-answer-for/will-be- held-responsible.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If he does not do those things, he will be punished for what he did.’’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 17:16

But: marking the contrast between the person who does what is required and the one who fails to do so. New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible also use this conjunction, but a number of English versions leave it untranslated.

Wash them or bathe his flesh: Good News Translation has left this implicit. In other languages it may be better to say “if he does not do what is required” or something similar. Another possibility is to say more explicitly “if he fails to wash his clothes, or if he does not wash his body.”

Bear his iniquity: although the precise consequences are not clearly stated here, the general meaning of this phrase is clear. The person failing to do what is prescribed must accept responsibility for his failure to act. Compare 5.1 and 7.18.

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 .