discharge

The Hebrew that is translated as “discharge” or similar in English is translated in Kalanga with tjigwele, a term that refers to sexually transmitted diseases. (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Kwere, the term ufila is used which implies pus (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext) and in Newari it is translated as “disease of the semen.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

complete verse (Leviticus 15:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 15:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “When that person dripping has been healed from his sickness, he needs to count seven days in which he is cleaning himself. He must wash his clothes and bathe in clean water, then he has become clean.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After a man who has disease of the semen is healed from his disease, [he] must wait for seven days. On the seventh day he must wash his clothes and bathe with pure water. Then he will be clean.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If this man is- now -healed from his illness/disease, he must- yet -wait for seven days. Then he must-launder his clothes and bathe in water from a spring. On the eighth day, he must bring two doves or two pigeons into the presence of the LORD there near the entrance of the Meeting-together-place Tent. Then he is-to-give this to the priest who (is) the-one to-offer them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If such a man is healed from his flow of fluid, he must wait for seven days. Then he must wash his clothes and bathe in water from a spring. Then he will be able to be with others.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 15:13

Is cleansed: this refers to the physical healing of the diseased person, which is not the same as his ritual purification at the end of the verse. It may be translated “no longer has this discharge,” or “gets well,” or “is healed of his sickness,” or something similar. New American Bible has “becomes free of his affliction.”

Count for himself seven days: see 12.2. Compare also verse 19. In many languages it would be a mistake to translate the verb count literally. Similar to Good News Translation, New American Bible has “shall wait seven days.” And both New Jerusalem Bible and An American Translation translate “must allow seven days.”

For his cleansing: that is, “to begin the purification ritual.”

The person healed of such a discharge must go through the same ritual of purification as those who came in contact with him. However, it is specifically added that he must bathe in fresh spring water.

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 .