complete verse (Deuteronomy 22:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 22:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is like that because the man raped the woman in a bush and she screamed, but there was no one who went to rescue her.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even if that engaged woman had cried out, there was no one to deliver her in that place when the evil deed took place.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For the woman was raped outside the town. Even if she screamed asking for help, no one has-heard to help her.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “because the man who raped her saw her when she was in the open countryside, and even though she called out for help, there was no one there who could rescue her.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 22:27

This verse explains why the woman is presumed innocent. A woman promised in marriage would not willingly have sex with another man.

Because he came upon her in the open country: other ways to express this are “The man raped the engaged girl in the countryside,” or even “the woman was alone out in the countryside when the man found her and raped her.”

Though the … woman cried for help: see verse 24.

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 .