justice

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “justice” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that describes the quality or principle of fairness, righteousness, and impartiality in treating other people. A literal back-translation of the signs are “FOLLOW(God is implied) ACTIONS, DECISIONS JUST-RIGHT”. A more idiomatic back-translation would be: “actions and decisions are right/fitting/just in accordance to God’s will.” The movement in the signs itself helps to indicate that this is a noun, not a verb. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Justice” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

complete verse (Leviticus 19:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 19:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not cover up the truth when you judge/make a decision. Do not show mercy to a person just/only because he is poor and do not listen to the powerful one, but judge/decide a person of your community standing on the truth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’Do not do injustice. Rather, whether a person is great or poor, without looking at the person’s face, [you] must do justice according to what is right for all people. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Your judging in court must be-fitting and righteous; [you (plur.)] do- not -favor the rich or the poor.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Always judge people fairly. Do not do special favors for either poor people or rich people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 19:15

Do no injustice: literally “Do not make a perversion of justice.” The Revised Standard Version rendering reflects the Hebrew, which has a negative formulation of this requirement. Good News Translation has stated the same truth in a positive manner. The decision about which model to follow should be based on what is most natural in the receptor language.

In judgment: this term is used here in its stricter sense, meaning “legal rulings” or “in a court of law,” rather than the general sense of an opinion expressed on any kind of subject.

Be partial to the poor: literally “lift up the face of the poor.” Some other languages have similar expressions for showing partiality or playing favorites, such as “to look at the face of…” or “treat … with special care.”

Defer to the great: the great in the context of this verse clearly refers to those who are the opposite of the poor, that is, “the rich.” This is made explicit in New Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation. Moffatt has “the powerful man” (similarly An American Translation). New American Bible renders the same word “the mighty.”

In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor: since this is a repetition of the same idea that is presented in negative form at the beginning of this verse, it may be left implicit at the end. On the word neighbor, see 6.2 and verse 13 above.

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 .