complete verse (Leviticus 14:37)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 14:37:

  • Kupsabiny: “And if he finds things that are green or red that has entered much inside the wall,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He must examine the house for mold infestation. If it has greenish or reddish depressions the mold infestation goes deeper than [the surface of] the wall of the house,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and he is-to-look at the mold on the wall. And if what- he -sees (is) greenish or reddish that is-appearing-to-be-deeper within the wall,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After the owner takes everything outside of his house, the priest will go in and inspect the house. If the mildew has caused greenish or reddish spots/depressions on the walls that seem to be deeper than only on the surface of the walls,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 14:37

The disease: literally “the mark (or, spot).” The priest actually inspects the affected area of the house. In some languages it may be wise to say this directly.

And if: literally “and behold” as in King James Version. But the obvious meaning is conditional.

Greenish or reddish: see 13.49.

Deeper than the surface: this corresponds to the depressions in the skin mentioned in 13.3. Here the idea may be expressed in a variety of ways. Moffatt has “below the surface of the plaster.” New Jerusalem Bible speaks of the walls of the house being “pitted.” And Good News Translation depicts the fungus as actively “eating into the wall.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .