complete verse (Genesis 21:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 21:18:

  • Kankanaey: “Go take-him-by-the-hand so that he gets-up, because I will cause-to-be-many his descendants.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Get up and go, and taking your son’s hand lift him up, and hold him firmly. For from him I will make a great nation.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You stand up and have- the child -rise-up, for I will-make into a big nation his descendants.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Help your son up, and hold his hand as you leave, because I will cause his descendants to become a great nation.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 21:18

Arise, lift up the lad: Arise may be taken literally as “Stand up.” Hagar has been sitting since verse 16. This term is also used in a more general sense as “Get ready,” “Go ahead,” “Prepare yourself.” Revised English Bible says “go.” Lift up translates a verb that is used with the sense of lifting up in order to move, carry away. Good News Translation and others say “pick … up.” If the translation pictures Ishmael as a small child, “pick up” will be appropriate. If, on the other hand, the translation pictures Ishmael as a grown youth, something equivalent to “help him up” will be better.

Hold him fast with your hand is literally “make your hand firm on him.” This is an idiom meaning “strengthen,” “encourage,” “comfort.” It is used in Ezek 16.49, where Revised Standard Version translates “aid.” Revised English Bible attempt to give the sense of comforting while using an expression close to the Hebrew idiom: “Hold him in your arms.”

For I will make him a great nation: for introduces a strong assertion here. For the translation of make him … nation, see the discussion in verse 13.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .