complete verse (Deuteronomy 2:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 2:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “And/But when all those men had died,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After all of those among the people who were able to go to war had died,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘When all the soldiers died,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After all the men who had been old enough to fight in wars had died ,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:16 - 2:17

The Revised Standard Version literal translation of verse 16 is strange English. There is no need in English to say had perished and were dead, and the following from among the people is simply a way of identifying them as people of Israel. Good News Translation provides all the information in modern English: “After they had all died.” Revised English Bible is more wordy but still natural: “When the last of the fighting men among the people had died.”

The LORD said to me: Yahweh is still talking to Moses alone, yet in the following verse the command is for all the people. Good News Translation has therefore translated “said to us.” Translators should follow either model, depending upon what is normal in their own language.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 21:6

All the elders: as in verse 4.

Shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley: this repeats old information, which in some languages may not be very good style. It may be enough to say “shall wash their hands over the dead heifer” or “over the body of the dead cow.” By this means the town leaders are transferring to the dead animal any guilt that may have been laid on the people of Israel as a whole (see similar proceedings in Lev 16.20-22).

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 .