complete verse (Genesis 24:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:13:

  • Kankanaey: “Because here-I-am here at the location of the spring and there are-coming the young-ladies who reside here to go fetch-water.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The girls of the city are coming here to the well to draw water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I am-standing here beside the well while the women of this city are-drawing-water.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Listen to me. I am standing near a well of water, and the young women of the city are coming to get water.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 24:13

Behold is rendered “Here” in Good News Translation and others. The servant is calling the LORD’s attention to the situation and to the fact that he is about to meet the women who are coming toward the well. He is still speaking to the LORD.

Spring of water: the narrator spoke of the “well of water” in verse 11. In chapter 16 “spring” and “well” are used to refer to the same source of water. There does not appear to be any reason for shifting from “well” to spring here and then in verse 20 back to “well.” It is probably best, therefore, to translate each verse by using the same term.

Daughters of the men of the city is a biblical way of saying “the young women of the city,” or more generally “the women of the town,” “the daughters of the town’s people.”

To draw water: as in verse 11.

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 .