complete verse (Numbers 19:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 19:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “Whatever an unclean person had touched, that thing is unclean, and a person who has touched that thing is unclean until sunset.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Anything that the unclean person touches will become unclean. And if someone else touches that thing he will also become unclean until the time of sundown."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Whoever or whatever touches the unclean/dirty man will-become unclean/dirty too until dusk.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘If someone touches a thing or a person that has become unacceptable to me, that person will remain unacceptable to me until that evening.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 19:22

And whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and any one who touches it shall be unclean until evening: This verse gives general principles about the ritual impurity of people. It highlights again what the consequences are if ritual impurity is not dealt with and taken very seriously. Pollution, like sin, is highly contagious and must therefore be counteracted immediately so that a state of ritual purity can be restored within the community of a holy God. Good News Translation provides a good model for this verse.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .