complete verse (Deuteronomy 28:43)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 28:43:

  • Kupsabiny: “Foreigners who live in your land shall become heavy (be powerful) and you shall become weak (be powerless.)” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The foreigners living among you will rise way above you, but you will go down below.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘The not Israelinhon who live with you (plur.) will- gradually -become powerful while you (plur.) on-the-other-hand will- gradually -weaken.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Foreigners who live in your land will become more and more powerful, and you will become less and less powerful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:43-44

Natural conditions will be reversed: the resident aliens (see 1.16) will become more prosperous and powerful than the Israelites.

Shall mount above you higher and higher: they will become ever richer and more powerful. We may also express this as “foreigners who live in your land will become richer and more powerful.”

You shall come down lower and lower: this verse presents a picture that is the opposite of verses 12b-13; the Israelites will decline in power and wealth. Contemporary English Version has “while you become poor and powerless.”

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 .