wild animal

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “wild animal” or similar is translated in Newari as “animal that lives in the jungle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

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 7:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Leviticus 7:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “The fat from an animal that has died by itself or is killed by a wild animal may be used for anything but it must not be eaten.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Moreover, even though it is OK to use the fat of an animal corpse, or one killed by a wild animal for any purpose, it is not OK for you to eat it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The fat of an animal which has- just -died or has-been-killed by another animal you (plur.) may use whatever you (plur.) want, but you (plur.) must- not -eat it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The fat of an animal that is found dead or that has been killed by a wild animal may be used for other purposes, but you must not eat it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Leviticus 7:24

That dies of itself: as in Good News Translation, New English Bible and many other versions, the meaning here is “any animal that dies a natural death.” This is in contrast with the following expression indicating violent death as a result of an encounter with a wild animal.

Torn by beasts: a literal translation of this phrase may be misleading, since it would leave open the possibility of an animal that survived an attack by a wild animal. The intent is surely “any animal that has been killed by a wild animal.”

The structure of the last part of this verse may be strange if a literal translation is made into other languages. The phrase any other use anticipates the prohibition on no account shall you eat it. Good News Translation has wisely shifted the prohibition forward but has perhaps lost some of its emphasis. It may be better to say “must in no case be eaten” or, where passive forms are not appropriate, “you must in no case eat….” Another way of rendering the last part of this verse may be “people must never eat the fat of such an animal, but it may be used for other things.”

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 .