complete verse (Leviticus 18:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 18:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not sleep with the wife of your brother because that is evil.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “you must not do sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonor your brother.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] do- not -have-sexual-intercourse with the wife of your (sing.) brother/[lit. your (sing.) female in-law] for this would-bring/[lit. would-give] shame to your (sing.) sibling/(brother).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Do not have sex with your brother’s wife, because that would disgrace your brother.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 18:16

In order to avoid the monotony of the repeated use of the same verbal expression, Good News Translation makes this a part of one sentence with the previous verse and allows one verb to serve in the place to two.

Brother’s wife: some languages will have a special word rather than translating this literally. Moffatt renders this expression as “sister-in-law.”

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 .