drink

In Telugu different verbs for humans drinking (tāgu / తాగు) and animals drinking (cēḍu / చేడు) are required.

complete verse (Numbers 5:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 5:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “If the woman has rebelled against her husband and slept with another man, that water which she has drunk shall make her stomach swell and (she) becomes barren. Later/then, her name is cursed among (the) people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If that woman did make herself unclean by betraying her husband, that water will torture her severely. Her stomach will swell and her womb will rot. Among the people her name will be a curse.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If (it is) true that she-made- herself -dirty by betraying her husband, the water that she drunk that brings/carries the curses will-cause- her -to-suffer very severely. She can- not -give-birth and she will-become an example to the people of the curse of God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If the woman has committed adultery, the water will cause her to suffer greatly. Her stomach will swell up and her womb will shrink, and she will be unable to give birth to children. And then her relatives/fellow Israelis will curse her.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 5:27

And when he has made her drink the water: Good News Translation leaves this clause implied since it occurs at the end of the previous verse.

Then, if she has defiled herself: See verse 13. Good News Translation omits this clause.

And has acted unfaithfully against her husband: See verse 12.

The water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain: See verses 18 and 24. Good News Translation says simply “the water will cause bitter pain.”

And her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: See verse 21.

And the woman shall become an execration among her people: See verse 21.

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 .