widow

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “widow” in English is translated in West Kewa as ona wasa or “woman shadow.” (Source: Karl J. Franklin in Notes on Translation 70/1978, pp. 13ff.)

The etymological meaning of the Hebrew almanah (אַלְמָנָה) is likely “pain, ache,” the Greek chéra (χήρα) is likely “to leave behind,” “abandon,” and the English widow (as well as related terms in languages such as Dutch, German, Sanskrit, Welsh, or Persian) is “to separate,” “divide” (source: Wiktionary).

See also widows.

Translation commentary on Leviticus 21:14

Widow: or “a woman whose husband has died.”

One divorced: or “a woman whose husband has rejected her (or, sent her away)…” or some similar expression.

Harlot: or “prostitute.” See 17.7.

Take to wife: or “marry a woman.”

A virgin: see verse 13.

Of his own people: meaning “from his own people” (New International Version, New American Bible) or “from his father’s kin” (New English Bible). Or some have proposed “of the priestly tribe (or, the tribe of Levi).” An American Translation “of his own class” may be misleading, even though it is probably intended to mean the priestly class rather than social class.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .