complete verse (Leviticus 24:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 24:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “If a person has wounded another person, it is to be done to him like that (the same)” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Furthermore, if anyone injures his/her neighbor, just as he/she has done, it must also be done like that to him/her.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If a person destroys/harms his fellowmen, he must be-destroyed/be-harmed according- also -to what he has-done: If he has-broken the bone of another (person) his bones also are-to-be-broken, if he plucks-out the eye of another (person), his eye also is-to-be-put-out, and if he knocks-out the tooth of another his tooth also is-to-be-knocked-out.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And if one person injures another person, the injured person is allowed to injure the person who injured him in the same way:” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 24:19

When: in many languages it is difficult to distinguish between “when” and “if.” The meaning here is clearly “If it happens that…” or “If the case arises where….”

Causes a disfigurement: this expression is to be understood in a very general sense, referring to any kind of injury (see New International Version, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible as well as Good News Translation). The various types of possible injuries are listed in verse 20 below.

Neighbor: that is, “another person.” See 6.2.

As he has done it shall be done to him: the passive form in the last part of this phrase will have to be translated actively in many languages. It may also be wise to reverse the order of the elements in the sentence by saying something like “They [indefinite] must do to him exactly what he has done to the other person.”

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 .