Meditate in the field: meditate translates a Hebrew verb of uncertain meaning. The word is found elsewhere only in poetic passages such as Psa 119.15, 23, 27. However, it is possible that the Hebrew root such “meditate” was mistaken for shut “walk about.” The ancient versions, according to Speiser, have “to chat, pray, meditate, take a walk.” Most modern versions examined translate as does Good News Translation. However, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch avoids saying why Isaac went out in the field, while Revised English Bible has “hoping to meet them [the servant and those with him].” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible‘s footnote explains that the word can mean meditate or complain, and “according to verse 67 Isaac appears afflicted by the death of his mother.” New Revised Standard Version has departed from Revised Standard Version by translating “to walk” but adds a note, “meaning of the Hebrew word uncertain.” Moffatt understands Isaac to be in mourning.

Due to the uncertainty of the meaning of the word translated meditate by Revised Standard Version, the Handbook suggests two possible ways to handle this problem. The first is to follow Good News Translation and others with “take a walk.” The second is to leave unstated the reason Isaac went out into the field; in this case we may say, for example, “One evening Isaac went out into the field.” This approach, however, invites readers to fill in the reason for Isaac going out into the field from their own imagination; and translators should consider carefully whether a wrong meaning is likely to be taken.

Field in this context suggests an area where animals were grazing, that is, pastureland. Abraham and Isaac are stockmen, not farmers raising crops in agricultural fields. However, the Hebrew term also commonly refers to land or countryside away from a settlement, without reference to the use that is made of the land; so another possible way of translating in this context is “go for a walk in the countryside” (Good News Translation Australian edition) or “he had gone out into the open country” (Revised English Bible). (See the article by Euan Fry, 1986.)

He lifted up his eyes and looked: this idiom is also used in 13.10, 14; 18.2; 22.4. It may be translated in English as “he looked up,” “he looked,” “he saw.”

And behold: in a narrative context behold may serve as a marker of something vivid or easily visible. We may translate, for example, “not far away he saw camels approaching.”

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 .