complete verse (Deuteronomy 6:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 6:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Write (them) also on the frames of your doors and the gates of your city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Write those commands on the entrance of your house door and on the main gate.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) write them on the doorposts of the door of your (plur.) houses and on the gates of your (plur.) towns.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Write them on the doorposts and on the gates of your houses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 6:9

The doorposts of your house and … your gates: in later times mezuzoth, small containers holding scripture verses, were fastened to the right-hand doorpost of the house. In this context gates means the city gates (homes were not surrounded by fences, so they had no gates); Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant make this clear, and the translator is urged to do the same; for example, “the gates [in the walls] of your towns.”

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 .