prostitute oneself / play the prostitute

The Hebrew that is translated as “prostitute oneself” or “play the prostitute” in English is translated in Vidunda as “(practice) sexual immorality.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

prostitute

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The Greek, Latin, and Hebrew that is typically translated as “prostitute” in English (in some, mostly earlier translation also as “harlot” or “whore”) is translated in the 2024 revision of the inter-confessional Latvian Jauna Pārstrādāta latviešu Bībele as netikle or “hussy.” This replaced the previous translation mauka or “whore.” Nikita Andrejevs, editor of the Bible explains the previous and current translations: “The translators at the time felt that this strong word best described the thought contained in the main text. Many had objections, as it seemed that this word would not be the most appropriate for public reading in church.” (Source: Updated Bible published in Latvia ).

Other translations include:

  • Bariai: “a woman of the road” (source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “a woman who sells her body” (source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Uma: “a woman whose behavior is not appropriate” or “a loose woman” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “a bad woman” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “a woman who make money through their reputation” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “a woman who makes money with her body” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “a woman whose womanhood is repeatedly-bought” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

See also Translation commentary on Genesis 34:31, Rahab, and prostitute oneself / play the prostitute.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Prostitution in the Bible .

complete verse (Leviticus 17:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 17:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “People are not allowed to still make sacrifices to idols that are like a he-goat that they worship. This law shall always be there for you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is your from generation-to-generation law forever.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So you (plur.) should no-longer offer to the demons that-which (is) in the form of the goat, for that will-cause- you -to-be-far from the LORD. You (plur.) and your (plur.) descendants must obey these regulations/[lit. what-is-to-be-followed] until generations to come.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You people must no longer give sacrifices to the demons that resemble goats which you are worshiping. You people must obey this command forever.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 17:7

They: the pronoun refers to the whole community of Israel; it will be better translated as a noun phrase in many languages; for example, “The people of Israel” (Good News Translation).

Satyrs: the English word found in Revised Standard Version, An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, and Moffatt suggests several meanings (including “a lecherous man”), none of which is really appropriate here. The Hebrew word actually means “goats” and is so translated by at least three French translations. But it refers to something more than an ordinary goat. It is a kind of demonic being in the form of a goat. Therefore it is rendered “goat demons” by Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, and New American Standard Bible. King James Version and New English Bible have simply “demons,” but this leaves out a significant element. The New International Version rendering “goat-idols” seems to imply something less lively than the context requires. The Living Bible rendering “evil spirits” is inaccurate. Translators should consider “demons that look like goats” or something similar. Compare “Azazel” in 16.8, 10, 26, as well as Isaiah 13.21; 34.14.

Play the harlot: this is a common expression in the Old Testament to speak of unfaithfulness toward God. The LORD expects the undivided loyalty and complete love of his people (see Exo 20.4-6). A person who worships or makes sacrifices to another god while claiming loyalty to the LORD, is like a man committing adultery, who betrays his wife and is unfaithful to his promise. This is why the Old Testament uses this image so often (see, for example, Exo 34.15-16 and the whole theme of the book of Hosea). This image has added significance in light of the fact that many pagan cults at the time practiced “temple prostitution” (see 19.29 and Hos 1.2). In many languages it will probably be better to drop the image and translate the meaning directly—something like “be unfaithful” or “deny your love.” But in other languages it may be possible to retain the image and convey the meaning: “be unfaithful to the LORD, like a man cheating on his wife.”

A statute for ever: see 3.17; 10.9; 16.29, 31.

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 .