complete verse (Deuteronomy 24:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 24:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not squeeze/put pressure on a poor person who has been hired or owns nothing whether he is a person of Israel or a foreigner who is in your cities.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not take advantage of a day laborer, who is needy and does not get to eat, whether he is your Israelite brother or a foreigner living in any of your towns.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘You (plur.) do- not -take-advantage of a poor worker, either he is an Israelite or non-Israelite who lives in your (plur.) town.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘o not mistreat any servants whom you have hired who are poor and needy , whether they are Israelis or foreigners who are living in your town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 24:14

Oppress: the ordinary meaning is “mistreat,” “treat harshly,” “abuse,” “exploit.” Here, however, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands the Masoretic Hebrew text to mean “you shall not exert any pressure [by means of] the wages of a poor man.” Revised English Bible translates this meaning with “keep back the wages of a poor man,” and Contemporary English Version “don’t hold back their pay.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy gives both meanings: “exploit or keep back the wages.” Should a translator decide to follow the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, Revised English Bible and Contemporary English Version offer good models to follow.

A hired servant: a person who works for pay, usually on a daily basis (as the next verse makes clear).

Your brethren: that is, your fellow-Israelites (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

The sojourners who are in your land within your towns: for sojourners, “alien residents,” see 1.16. It is enough to say simply “the foreigners [or, non-Israelites] who live in your land.”

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 .