mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan, Friulian) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

complete verse (Leviticus 20:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 20:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a man marries his sister who is related to him from the same mother or from another house (second wife of the father) it is a sexual sin. Both of them break away (be cut off) while people are looking. Those words/things happen to that man because he has passed through the thighs of his sister.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’If anyone marries his elder or younger sister, the daughter of his father or mother, and has intercourse, it is a shameful deed. They must be expelled from their own people. He has done a shameful thing to his younger sister. And he will be guilty. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a man marries (his sister) and lies-down-beside/(has-sexual-relations-with) his female sibling/(sister), even-though she (is) also his sibling/(sister) from his father or his mother, he has-put- his sibling/(sister) -to-shame so he is-to-answer-for (this). And because of what the two of them have-done brings-shame, you (plur.) are- no-longer -to-consider them a member of you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If a man marries his sister, the daughter of either his mother or his father, and they have sex together, that is disgraceful. They must not be allowed to continue to associate with my people. And because he has disgraced his sister, he must be punished.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 20:17

Takes …: this is probably to be understood in the sense of “takes as a wife,” or “marries,” as in Good News Translation and a number of other versions. See verse 14.

His sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother: see 18.9.

Sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness: or “they see each other naked” (New English Bible). But this may also be translated “and they live together as husband and wife.” Compare Moffatt “he and she cohabit.” This is not the same as the expression uncovered … nakedness used later in this verse as well as in chapter 18 above.

A shameful thing: the idea of “shame” or “disgrace” is not usually difficult to express. But in some languages there may be a roundabout way of saying it, rather than using a single word.

They shall be cut off: see 7.20 and 17.10. The Good News Translation rendering here is “driven out….” This is more forceful than the Good News Translation translation of the same expression elsewhere, but may perhaps be justified by the context.

In the sight of the children of their people: this highlights the public nature of the punishment. The word rendered children of is the same as that translated “son of” in 1.5 and elsewhere. It simply refers to members of a group—in this case the Israelite people.

Uncovered … nakedness: this is the same expression used so frequently in chapter 18. See, for example, 18.6.

He shall bear his iniquity: the Septuagint has “they shall bear…,” as in verses 11, 12, and 13, but this is not followed by any modern version consulted.

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 .