complete verse (Numbers 19:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 19:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Also the person who burned the cow must wash his clothes and bathe himself. He also remains unclean until evening/sunset.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The one who burns the calf must also wash his clothes and bathe with water. He will also be unclean until the time of sundown.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The man who burned the cow must also wash his clothes and take-a-bath, and he also be-considered unclean/dirty until dusk.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The man who burns the cow must also wash his clothes and bathe, and he will also be unacceptable to me until that evening.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 19:8

He who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water: See verse 7. The man who burned the cow must make himself ritually clean in the same way as the priest. This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). Revised Standard Version omits it, but Good News Translation renders it “also,” which is a helpful model.

And shall be unclean until evening: See verse 7.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .