fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Leviticus 3:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 3:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person must not eat that fat or the blood. That is a law that all generations/age-sets must observe for all time in your villages.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “’No matter where you live, you must never eat fat and blood. This is your law forever from generation to generation.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) must- not -eat fat or blood. You (plur.) should obey this regulation until the future generations, wherever you (plur.) will-live.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘This is a command that must be obeyed by you and your descendants forever, wherever you live: You must not eat the fat or the blood of any animal.’ ’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Leviticus 3:17

Verse 17 develops further the concluding statement at the end of the previous verse. It emphasizes the absolute character of the prohibition against the eating of fat or blood.

A perpetual statute throughout your generations: this phrase occurs seventeen times in Leviticus. It indicates a rule that is to be observed by all Israelites for all time. The rule forbidding the eating of blood or fat was to apply not only to the Israelites living at that time, but also to all future generations. This expression must be translated in such a way as to include both. It may be rendered “This regulation is to last for all time…” (Moffatt), or “This is a rule for all time from generation to generation…” (New English Bible), or “This is a permanent law for all your descendants.”

In all your dwelling places: it has been suggested that the emphasis here is not on the individual houses in which Israelites dwell, but on the fact that this rule is to apply in whatever country they may live. If they were living outside the Promised Land they could not offer sacrifices, but they would still have to abstain from eating blood or fat. However, it is more likely that these words mean “anywhere in Palestine” (compare Ezek 6.6, 14). Some possible models of translation are: “all over the country” (Moffatt); “wherever you may live” (New Jerusalem Bible); “wherever you live” (New International Version and New English Bible). Good News Translation has “wherever they live,” with the focus on future generations.

Neither fat nor blood: in some languages it may be necessary to specify “the blood or any fatty parts (of the animals).” This is especially true in those languages where there is no distinction between animal fat and vegetable oil, since the consumption of vegetable oil is not forbidden. The mention of blood, the symbol of life (see 17.10-14), completes the picture.

It may be more natural to reverse the order of the two propositions in this verse, as has been done by Good News Translation. That is, the rule against eating fat or blood may be stated first and then followed by the requirements regarding time and place.

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 .