complete verse (Leviticus 7:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 7:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “If the meat touches anything that is not clean, it should not be eaten but it must be burned. It is allowed/accepted for a person who is (ceremonially) clean to eat meat.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is not OK for anyone to eat flesh that has touched any unclean thing. It must be burned in fire. The rest of the meat may be eaten but only by people who are ceremonially clean."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If the meat unintentionally-touches/brushes-against any/[lit. whatever] thing that is-considered dirty/unclean, this must not now be-eaten but-instead should be-burnt. Concerning the offered meat that can-be-eaten, whoever is-considered clean are-permitted to-eat this meat.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘eat that touches something that God considers to be impure must not be eaten; it must be completely burned. Anyone who has performed the rituals to become acceptable to God is allowed to eat other meat which has been offered as a sacrifice.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 7:19

Revised Standard Version and a number of other English versions begin a new paragraph at the beginning of this verse, but Good News Translation takes the first part of this verse as belonging to the previous paragraph (similarly Bible en français courant and Traduction oecuménique de la Bible). Some versions assume that the general rules begin at verse 18 (see New Jerusalem Bible). Translators are advised to follow the paragraphing of Good News Translation at this point.

Flesh: the word thus translated in Revised Standard Version could theoretically refer either to the meat of the peace offering mentioned in the previous verse or to meat in general. However, it is almost certain that it refers more specifically to the meat offered to the LORD. Therefore it may be advisable to translate “that meat” or “this meat,” clearly referring back to verse 18. Moffatt renders the term “sacrificial flesh.”

Unclean: that is, ritually unclean (see 5.2).

With fire: see verse 17.

All who are clean …: or “ritually clean” (see 5.2).

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 .