complete verse (Leviticus 20:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 20:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Anyone who has cursed his father or mother is to be killed because it is himself he has caused problems for.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’Whoever curses his/her father or mother, he/she must be killed. Such a person is guilty of a great crime. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be-killed. He (is) responsible for his (own) death.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If anyone curses his father or his mother, he must be executed. He himself will be responsible for his own death.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 20:9

Good News Translation adds at the beginning of this verse “The LORD gave the following regulations” in order to introduce the new paragraph and remind the reader that the ultimate origin of what follows is from God himself (see verse 1).

Curses … he has cursed …: the repetition of this verb may be eliminated as unnatural and awkward in many languages. But in others the repetition may be retained, and the whole verse may be restructured as follows: “If a man curses his father or his mother, he must be killed. He is responsible for his own death because he cursed his parents.” On the meaning of the word “curse,” see 19.14.

Shall be put to death: this is the same emphatic construction as used in verse 2. If the receptor language has no passive form, this may be translated “they [indefinite] must kill him.”

His blood is upon him: it would be a mistake in many languages to translate this literally. This expression indicates that the person who committed the act is alone responsible for his own death. The blame cannot be shared with anyone else.

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 .