complete verse (Leviticus 20:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 20:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a man has sex with an animal, the man and the animal are to be killed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’If anyone, man or woman, has intercourse with an animal, he/she must be killed. Along with [them], the animal must also be killed. Such a person is guilty of a great crime. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a man or woman has-sexual-relations-together with an animal, he and the animal must be-killed/be-put-to-death. They (are) responsible for their (own) death.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If a man has sex with an animal, he must be executed, and you must also kill that animal.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 20:15

Lies with a beast: that is, “has sexual intercourse with an animal.” Compare 18.23a.

He shall be put to death: this is the same emphatic construction as used in previous verses in this chapter.

You: the pronoun here is singular but is used in an impersonal way, so that it is translated by a passive form in Good News Translation. In those languages where this is not possible, some other means should be used to say that “someone” is to perform the action, without stating who that person should be.

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 .