complete verse (Deuteronomy 7:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Deuteronomy 7:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not let their sons marry your girls/daughters and do not let your sons marry their girls/daughters.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not get married to them. Do not give your daughters to their sons, and do not bring their daughters for your sons.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) do- not -marry with them, and do- not -allow your (plur.) children to marry with their children,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You must not marry any of them. You must not allow your daughters to marry any of their sons or allow your sons to marry any of their daughters.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 7:3

Marriages were arranged by the parents. The bride was the passive partner: she was “given” by her father to the groom, and was “taken” from her own father. Revised Standard Version here is a better representation of the Hebrew than Good News Translation: the giving and taking clauses are an explanation of the main verb, make marriages. In some cultures it may be impossible to represent this cultural element, and a general statement forbidding intermarriage will have to be satisfactory; for example, “and don’t let your sons and daughters marry any of them.”

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 .