medium

The Hebrew that is translated as “medium” in English is translated in Basa as “the people of the grave” (source: Rob Koops) and in Newari as “a person who knowingly becomes possessed” (source: Newari Back-Translation).

spiritualist

The Hebrew that is translated as “spiritualist” (or: spiritist”) or similar in English is translated in Newari as “one who does the work of a Jhākri ” (source: Newari Back-Translation).

complete verse (Deuteronomy 18:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 18:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “No person among you may take his son of his daughter and pass them through fire as a sacrifice. And again, a person who beats the stomach of an animal (looks for omens), a witch-doctor or one who curses or all kinds of witchcraft must not be found among you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “anyone who does tantra mantra, a person who knowingly becomes possessed, one who does the work of a Jhākri nor any people who take advice from people who have already died.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “casts spells, do-what the spiritist is doing, and talk to the spirit/[kalag] of the dead.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Do not try to talk with spirits of dead people. Do not do/practice magic.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 18:11

New Revised Standard Version has the following: “casts spells … consults ghosts or spirits … seeks oracles from the dead.” Good News Translation uses two different terms to cover the four Hebrew words. New Revised Standard Version is a good model to follow.

A charmer: this activity means to cast a spell on a person, to “bewitch” that person. An alternative model is “one who sings his magic.” Many languages will have similar expressions for this type of person.

A medium: a person who is able to communicate with the spirit world, in particular, with the spirits of the dead.

Wizard: someone who practices magic. “Magic,” whether harmful or beneficial, occurs in most cultures, and there will be terms for it and the people who perform it. “Magic” may also be expressed as “secret [or, supernatural] powers,” so a wizard can be translated “one who has secret [or, supernatural] powers.”

Necromancer: someone who consults the dead. In many languages medium and necromancer will be combined; for example, “those who talk with spirits of the dead” (Contemporary English Version).

In a number of cultures there will be different terms for all eight types of people in verses 10 and 11. However, in those languages that do not have equivalents for all the types of forbidden practices, the model below, from Contemporary English Version, will be helpful. The underlying assumption is that all of them require magic or witchcraft, and they can be grouped into three basic types:

• … And don’t try to use any kind of magic or witchcraft to tell fortunes, or to cast spells, or to talk with spirits of the dead.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .