law

The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004), in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang), in Yucateco as “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198), and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

McKnight’s English translation (publ. 2023) has it as Covenant Code. He explains (p. 301): “The law of Moses was a covenantal arrangement by God with the people of Israel. This code of conduct expected of them was not the same as law in the Roman world or what law means to us today. It is a revelation of God’s will for God’s covenant people but requires ongoing interpretation and adjustments.”

In a 1922 translation into Chagatai, a precursor language of both Uzbek and Uighur, it is translated with the Arabic loan word shari’at (شريعت), originally meaning “(Islamic) law (Shari’a).” (Source: F. Erbay and F.N. Küçükballı in Acta Theologica 2025 45/2, p. 133ff. )

See also teaching / law (of God) (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Leviticus 7:37

While verses 35 and 36 serve as a minor conclusion to chapters 6 and 7, verses 37 and 38 provide at the same time a further conclusion to these chapters (see the use of law here and in 6.2, 7, 18, and so on) and also a major conclusion to the entire first section of Leviticus (chapters 1–7).

This is the law: this expression is the same as the beginning of verses 1 and 11, except that the definite article precedes law, and the conjunction is absent in this verse. The earlier verses have the conjunction but lack the definite article. In this context, however, it seems clear that we are dealing here with a summary statement. See also 6.2.

The burnt offering … the cereal offering …: each of the names of the first three kinds of sacrifices in this list is singular in form, but used in a collective sense. In many languages it will be necessary to make them all plural so that the collective meaning is clear. The translator should make certain that the names used in this summary statement correspond to the names given to each kind of offering in its own section and in the section headings.

Consecration: this word may be better translated “installation” (An American Translation), “ordination” (New International Version), or “investiture” (New Jerusalem Bible). The same word is used elsewhere for the setting of a jewel (Exo 25.7, for example). It carries the idea of putting in place. And in this context where the plural form is used, it obviously has to do with the offerings associated with the priests’ installation or ordination. For this reason several versions say explicitly “ordination offering” (New International Version and New American Bible), “installation offerings” (New English Bible), or something similar.

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 .