complete verse (Deuteronomy 22:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 22:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not see a donkey or ox of your neighbor which has collapsed on the road and then abandon (it/them). Help your neighbor and make that cow or donkey get up.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Also, seeing your neighbor’s donkey or ox collapsing on the road, do not pretend to not have seen it. But help your Israelite neighbor to get up.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘If you (plur.) see the donkey or cow of your (plur.) fellowman slumped-down on the road, you (plur.) do- not -ignore it. Surely help the owner to cause- it -to-stand-up.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘nd if you see a fellow Israeli’s donkey or cow that has fallen down on the road, do not act as though you did not see it. Help the owner to lift the animal up so that it can stand on its feet again.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 22:4

By the way: meaning “along the road” (Contemporary English Version). The animal’s owner is there, trying to lift it up.

You shall help him to lift them up again: The Hebrew is emphatic, with the double use of the verb, “helping lift up … you shall help.” Good News Translation has “help him get the animal to its feet again.” We may also translate in a way similar to the Hebrew, with “You shall help him lift the animal up so that it stands on its feet again.”

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 .