complete verse (Numbers 27:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 27:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “And if he does not even have brothers, his paternal uncle shall inherit.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If he has no elder or younger brothers, his inheritance must be given to the elder and younger brothers of his father.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If he has no brother, give his land to the brothers of his father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If the man had no brothers, give to his father’s brothers the things that his sons or daughters or brothers would have inherited.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 27:9-10

In verses 9-11 three specific case laws follow the one at issue with Zelophehad’s daughters (verse 8). Verses 9-10 reiterate the fact that inheritance in Israel was transferred to males on the father’s side. Wenham says, “The surviving male relatives are listed in order of closeness in verses 9-10.”

And if he has no daughter … And if he has no brothers …: The conjunction And may be omitted both times for naturalness (so Good News Bible).

You shall give his inheritance to his brothers … then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers: The Hebrew pronoun for you is plural both times, referring to the people of Israel. Clearly, brothers is used here in the narrow sense of the word, not in the more general sense of “relatives” or “kinsmen.”

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 .