Bratcher, Robert and Hatton, Howard. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. New York: UBS, 2000.
Live long in the land: see 4.40; 5.16.
The LORD swore to your fathers to give them: see 1.8.
A land flowing with milk and honey: see 6.3.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Verses 10-13 are one sentence, with some repetition: you are entering to take possession of it (verse 10) and you are going over to possess (verse 11), as in verse 8. In some languages the use of this kind of repetition may have a negative effect, leaving the reader bored with the narrative. A translator should use the style that will include all the information of the biblical text and at the same time keep the reader’s interest.
Not like the land of Egypt: the main difference is the source of water needed to grow crops. In Canaan the seasonal rains supplied the water; in Egypt the water was made to flow in irrigation canals by a series of water wheels, turned by foot. This seems to be the most reasonable explanation of the expression and watered it with your feet; some believe it is simply a way of saying “by means of hard work” (Good News Translation “work hard to irrigate the fields”). Some have suggested this means urinating, but this does not seem very likely. Alternative translation models are “you had to work hard to water your fields,” or “you had to struggle just to water your crops” (Contemporary English Version).
A land … which drinks water by the rain from heaven: in some languages there may be a problem in talking about the land “drinking” rain water; in such cases something like the following can be said: “a land with hills and valleys, which is watered by the rain” (or “which gets its water from the rains”); see verse 14 for more statements about the rains.
See Good News Translation for a good alternative model for verse 11.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
A land which the LORD your God cares for: here the verb translated cares for means “takes care of,” “oversees,” or “superintends.”
The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it: this is a picturesque way of saying that the LORD always watches over the land, to protect it. Contemporary English Version says “the LORD your God keeps his eyes on this land.” For the LORD your God see 1.6.
From the beginning of the year to the end of the year: an emphatic way of saying “always,” “all the time,” “through all seasons.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
My commandments: these are God’s commandments, which Moses is passing on to the people. For commandments see 4.2.
This day: as in verse 8.
To love … and to serve: see 10.12.
With all your heart and with all your soul: see 4.29.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
He will give the rain: Yahweh is the source of all that the people need (verses 14-15). In a number of languages this will be expressed as “He will cause the rain to fall.”
The rain … in its season: that is, the rain comes at the right times of the year, in the fall (October), ending the summer drought, preparing the fields for sowing, and in the spring (April), the last rain before the dry season (see Jer 5.24). In some languages these are referred to as “autumn rains” and “spring rains” respectively. In cultures where rains normally fall during a monsoon season, we may say “He will cause the seasonal rains to fall” or “he will send rain on your land when it is needed” (Good News Translation).
Grain … wine … oil: this includes all cereals, especially wheat and barley, the grape orchards, and the olive trees. For comments on these three terms, see 7.13.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Grass in your fields for your cattle: the animals include cows, goats, and sheep. See 2.35.
You shall eat and be full: they will always have enough, and more than enough, to eat. They will never go hungry.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
For this verse see the same language in 4.19; 8.19.
The passive form of the verb, your heart be deceived, may be difficult to imitate, since the question may be raised, “Who or what deceives?” (Good News Translation “be led away” poses the same problem.) If a passive construction with no actor named is impossible, it may be necessary to make “your thoughts” or “your desires” the subject of the verb: “your desires lead you astray,” “your thoughts make you do what is wrong.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
The anger of the LORD is kindled against you: see 6.15.
Shut up the heaven: this kind of poetic language may not make sense in some languages, so it may be easier to say “and he doesn’t send you rain,” “he does not let the rains come,” “he will keep the rain from falling” (Contemporary English Version) or “He will hold back the rain” (Good News Translation).
The land yield no fruit: in more general terms, “your fields will not grow crops,” or “you won’t be able to grow crops in your fields.” However, there will be many languages that will use an expression similar to the Hebrew; for example, “the land will become too dry and won’t produce fruit.”
You perish quickly: see 4.26.
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .