Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:26

Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje begins a new section here that goes to the end of the chapter, with the heading “A Blessing and a Curse.” Translators in other languages may want to do this also. If so, other possible models for a heading are “God will either bless or curse” or “God will either do good things for you or punish you.” As with other new sections, it will be helpful to reintroduce Moses as the speaker.

The exhortation (chapter 11) closes with the choice that is given to the people: blessing or curse, good fortune or misfortune, success or failure. All of this comes from God, who will act in accordance with the people’s willingness to obey him. It is not difficult to find a good translation for blessing (see 1.11), but one for curse, in which God is the actor, may prove somewhat difficult, since in many languages the term “curse” is associated with the profanity and vulgarity that accompany a loss of temper. In this context a curse is God’s solemn resolve to punish the people as they deserve for disobeying him. It may be necessary to use the verb “to punish” or the noun “punishment.”

But this curse is also binding. Once Yahweh has uttered blessings or cursings they cannot be taken back. Translators should study the way blessings and cursings function in their cultures. How do these curses by Yahweh compare to those of, for example, the Shaman or the “medicine man”? Will the vocabulary used in similar situations apply to Yahweh’s curses?

I set before you this day: God is giving the people a choice; Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje translates “And now I will let you choose whether you want a blessing or a curse.” Again this day is emphasized.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Today you must choose between two things: Do you want the LORD to do good things for you or to punish you?

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:27

The subject and the vocabulary of this verse have occurred several times already. For commandments see 4.2.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:28

If you do not obey: this is the exact opposite of verse 27.

Turn aside from the way which I command you this day: see 9.12. This is a deliberate act of disobedience. Here the way refers to the rules and regulations that will be given in chapters 12–26, a section which is often called “The Deuteronomic Code.”

To go after other gods which you have not known: this means to forsake Yahweh as their God and serve and worship other gods which they had never known before, that is, the gods of Canaan (see verse 16). For gods see 3.24.

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:29

And when the LORD your God brings you: this is better expressed as “And after the LORD your God takes you….” For take possession see 1.8 and elsewhere.

You shall set the blessing … and the curse: that is, on the two mountains whose names are given, they would “proclaim” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Bible en français courant), or “announce” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Contemporary English Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), the rewards and punishments that would accompany obedience and disobedience (see chapter 27; also Josh 8.30-35). Good News Translation has a good model: “You are to proclaim the blessing from Mount Gerizim and the curse from Mount Ebal.” An alternative model may be “You are to proclaim from Mount Gerizim how Yahweh will reward you and announce from Mount Ebal how he will punish you.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:30

The Revised Standard Version form is that of a rhetorical question, Are they not…? to which the answer is Yes, they are. This is better translated as a statement of fact, as in New Revised Standard Version, “As you know….” Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Revised English Bible use parentheses around this verse, to show that it is not part of Moses’ speech but a comment inserted later by the writer. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is a good model to follow: “(These mountains, as everyone knows, ….)”

Beyond the Jordan: that is, on the west side of the Jordan River; the point of view here is Moab.

West of the road, toward the going down of the sun: this is a rather wordy way of saying “west”; it is not known what road is meant. New Revised Standard Version translates “some distance to the west,” and Good News Translation has “They are toward the west.”

The Arabah: the Jordan Valley (see 1.1).

Over against Gilgal “Near the town of Gilgal” (Good News Translation). This town is near Jericho (see Josh 4.5).

Beside the oak of Moreh: see Gen 12.6; this is near Shechem, close to Gerizim, which is some 25-30 miles distant from Gilgal. The text as it stands is not very clear, unless Gilgal is another town, not the one known from the book of Joshua. It is not clear what is meant by the oak of Moreh. The tree could be a terebinth, but most translators have oak. The Hebrew word moreh may mean “teaching” or “divining”; it is not the name of a place or a person. It seems to have been a sacred tree or grove of trees where it was believed people would receive a revelation from God, or also where a sacrifice would be offered. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version attempt to bring out the special nature of the place by saying “sacred trees”; it would be better to say “sacred tree” (as Good News Translation has in Gen 6.12). It is possible that this is the same tree that in Judges 9.37 is called “the Diviners’ oak” (Revised Standard Version; see Good News Translation “the oak of the fortunetellers”).

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 11:31 - 11:32

All the words and phrases in this verse have appeared several times before.

Pass over the Jordan: this means to cross over to the west side of the river.

For statutes and ordinances see 4.1.

Which I set before you this day: this refers to what follows (chapters 12–26).

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:1

With the beginning of a new section, it will be helpful to start with something like “Moses said to the Israelites” or “Moses continued to speak to the Israelites, saying, ….”

Statutes and ordinances: see 4.1.

Be careful to do: this expression occurs frequently (5.1, 21; 6.3, 25; 7.11; 8.1; 11.22, 32).

The language of this verse is like that of other passages (see especially 1.8; 6.1, 18). The last clause, all the days that you live upon the earth, may go with the command you shall be careful to do (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) or with the verb to possess (so, apparently, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible). It is better to link it quite clearly with the command be careful to do.

Live upon the earth: Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, and BÍBLIA para todos Edição Comum take the Hebrew noun ʾadamah in this expression to mean “the land,” that is, the land of Canaan, and not the earth. In the first part of the verse the Hebrew word translated land is a different word, ʾerets. It seems better to take the word ʾadamah here to mean the earth, meaning, of course, “as long as you live” (see Contemporary English Version).

The God of your fathers means “the God whom our [inclusive] ancestors worshiped.” For fathers see 1.8.

The following model for this verse may be useful:

• These are the rules and regulations that you must obey in the land that the LORD, the God of our ancestors, is giving you. You must obey them as long as you live [or, always].

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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 12:2

Verses 2-3 are a command for the Israelites to destroy all places of worship and all idols and images of the Canaanites.

You shall surely destroy: this compound form (literally, “destroying you shall destroy”) uses the same verb used in 11.4. Destroy in this context means to completely get rid of something, either by tearing it down, smashing it into pieces, or burning it (see verse 3).

The nations whom you shall dispossess: see 9.1; 11.23.

Served their gods: see 4.28 and 6.13. On the translation of gods see 3.24.

High mountains … hills: where there are not two different words for “mountain” and “hill,” the expression “big hills and small hills” can be used.

Green tree: this is rather “leafy tree” (New Revised Standard Version), “spreading tree” (Revised English Bible, New International Version), or “luxuriant tree” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), that is, a large tree with many leaves, providing shade. So Contemporary English Version has “in the shade of large trees,” and Good News Translation “under green trees.”

The structure of verse 2 is somewhat complex, and a translation should make the sentence flow naturally. One way to restructure the verse is the following:

• But the peoples [or, nations] that live there worship other gods. So after you capture the land, you must completely destroy the likenesses [or, images] of these gods, whether they are on mountains, hills, or in the shade of large leafy trees.

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 .