the head slips from the handle

The Hebrew that is translated as “the head slips from the handle” in English had to be expressed much more specifically in Kutep.

Rob Koops tells this story: “I came across what appeared to be an ambiguity in this verse, which describes an axe-head slipping off its handle and killing someone. The Kutep word kujwo can mean ‘hand/arm’ or ‘handle.’ The first draft of the Kutep text had: rikae fwer ru wu kujwo, which could mean a) the axe slipped out of his hand or b) the axe (head) slipped out of its handle. On discussion, we found out that the drafter had used a culturally equivalent scenario, namely the axe slipping out of the user’s hands, which seemed to be more likely to him than the head coming off. We also discovered a word for the ‘head’ on an axe, so we can now describe the actual biblical scenario, which requires a different verb for slipping out, which is nwae ru. Finally, we discovered that by using a grammatical construction that describes an action that is unexpected and/or unwanted, we can enhance the elegance of the translation, which in idiomatic English now reads something like ‘the axe-head went and slipped out of the handle’ or ‘the axe-head slipped out of the handle on him.'”

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 19:5

In verses 5-6 one particular example of accidental killing is given. A good way to start verse 5 is to say “For example” (Good News Translation), “For instance” (New International Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible), or “Suppose that…” (New Revised Standard Version).

A man … with his neighbor: as in verse 4, this means “with his friend,” or “with someone else.” Or else, even more simply, “For instance, two men go to the woods….”

The forest: or “the woods.” An equivalent of “the jungle” may be used if there is no other word to designate an area where trees grow plentifully.

To cut wood: either firewood or else for carpentry.

His hand swings the axe to cut down a tree: that is, “While he is cutting down a tree with his ax,” or else, like New International Version, “As he swings his ax to fell a tree.”

The head slips from the handle: the head is the heavy metal blade fixed to the wooden handle of an ax. Slips may not give the right sense in English, since it may not mean it happens with enough speed and force to kill a person; Good News Translation has “comes off,” but perhaps “flies off” is more appropriate in this context.

And strikes his neighbor so that he dies: “And the head hits the other man and he dies.”

He may flee to one of these cities and save his life: this refers to the nearest town of refuge, where he can be safe from the dead man’s relative who would go after him in order to kill him.

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 .