complete verse (Deuteronomy 22:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 22:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “When you build a house, build a wall around the side of the roof of the house. Do not let a person fall down from there and then you are to blame when/if he dies.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When a new house is being built, set up a wall all around the roof terrace, then, after that, if any person falls down, the guilt for that person’s death will not fall upon your house.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘When you (plur.) build a house, you (plur.) must make/[literally, place/put] rail around your (plur.) flat roof, so-that you (plur.) are not accountable if someone falls from your (plur.) roof and dies.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If you build a new house, you must put a railing/low wall around the edge of the roof. If you do that, and if someone falls off the roof and dies, you will not be guilty of causing that person to die/his death will not be your fault.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 22:8

A parapet for your roof: a parapet is a railing placed at the edges of the flat roof. The roof was reached by outside steps, and people would gather there to relax and visit; see Josh 2.6; 2 Kgs 4.10. In some languages a parapet will be expressed as “a low wall.”

The guilt of blood: responsibility for someone’s death (see 19.10; 21.8). Good News Translation has “then you will not be responsible if….”

If any one fall from it: that is, “… fall to his or her death”; in this context the word blood carries the sense of a violent death. The last part of the verse may also be expressed as “Then if someone falls off the roof and is killed, it won’t be your fault” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .