complete verse (Exodus 12:44)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 12:44:

  • Kupsabiny: “But a servant/slave who was bought and circumcised can eat (it).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Any slave (you) have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “All the slaves who were-bought can-eat if they are-circumcised,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But if your buy some laborer of yours, and so he desires to eat the food of Pasova, you (pl.) must do [ritual] skin-cutting on him, and when it’s done, then he is able to eat with you.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And slave who you buy [this direction] from outside, which they cut off him phallus, let him eat it,” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Yahweh said this to Aaron and Moses/me: ‘These are my instructions about the Passover ritual: Do not let foreigners eat the Passover meal. But any male slaves that you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 12:44

Slave in Hebrew is a word that often refers to a servant rather than a slave, so in Hebrew it is necessary to specify bought for money, or “purchased” (New Revised Standard Version). (See the comment on “slave” at 1.11a.) Every slave is literally “each [male] slave of a man,” or “every man’s slave” (New American Standard Bible). Such a privately-owned slave belonged to the household and served mostly as a domestic helper. The Israelites themselves sometimes became slaves (see 21.2), so it may be assumed that the slave referred to here was not an Israelite. This is because every Israelite male would have been circumcised shortly after birth. The Israelites did not practice female circumcision. However, this information on “circumcision” may be placed in a footnote. (See the discussion at 4.25-26.)

May eat of it is simply “and he will eat in it,” probably meaning the Passover meal in verse 43. After you have circumcised him is literally “and you [singular] circumcised him.” One may say “after he has been circumcised” (New Revised Standard Version), or “if you circumcise him first” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .