complete verse (Deuteronomy 20:9)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “And when those leaders have finished speaking to the soldiers, then the soldiers are to be separated (into groups) and then (the) men who shall go in front of those soldiers are to chosen,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After the captains have finished speaking, they must appoint leaders to the army units.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When the officials have-finished speaking to the soldiers, they will- then -choose commanders to lead the soldiers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And when the officers have finished speaking to the troops, they must appoint commanders to lead the groups of soldiers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 20:9

The commanders in this verse are not the same as the officers; they are men who would be appointed to be in charge of the various units that would be formed after some men had gone back home, for the different reasons given above. For the size of the units, see 1.15, where the same Hebrew word for commanders is used.

Shall be appointed: the Hebrew verb is the third person plural of the active voice, literally “they shall appoint.” In this context the subject or agent may be the officers (so New International Version, Contemporary English Version); for example, “they will appoint commanders.” Alternatively the third plural may be used impersonally, which is often done, with the meaning “they [the commanders] shall assume command” (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version). Or even the passive sense, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, may be intended. The meaning expressed by New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New Revised Standard Version is to be preferred.

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 .