Reuben

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Reuben” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “head” or “leader” referring to the position he had among his brothers as the firstborn. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Reuben” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

mandrake

The Hebrew that is translated in English typically as “mandrake” is translated in various French translations (Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Français courant, Parole de Vie) as pommes d’amour or “love apples” which indicates the function as an aphrodisiac (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin). Likewise, in a number of German translations (Luther, Gute Nachricht Bibel), Liebesäpfel with the same meaning is used. Incidentally, in both German and French the respective terms also refer to candy apples .

complete verse (Genesis 30:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 30:14:

  • Newari: “One day during the time of wheat harvest, Reuben went to the field. He found mandrakes there and brought them to his mother, Leah. Rachel said to Leah –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One time during harvest-season of wheat, Reuben went to the field and he saw a mandrake/[mandragora] plant. He picked some fruit and brought-(it) to his mother Lea. When Raquel saw those she said to Lea, ‘Give me also some mandragora which your son has-brought.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When it was time to harvest wheat, Reuben went out into the fields and saw some mandrakes/plants that women eat to help them to become pregnant. He brought some of them to his mother Leah. But Rachel saw them and said to Leah, ‘Please give me some of those plants that your son brought to you!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 30:14

Verse 14 begins a brief episode (verses 14-16) about the jealousy and bad feeling between Jacob’s wives.

In the days of the wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field: wheat harvest refers to the time when the wheat is cut and gathered. If wheat is unknown in the translator’s language, another grain such as rice may be substituted. If there is no grain harvest, it may be necessary to say, for example, “At the time of gathering in crops from the gardens….”

Mandrakes translates a Hebrew word that refers to a plant with large leaves and yellow or purple flowers. For illustration and description see Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pages 138-139|fig:ffb_Mandrake.htm. The mandrake, also called “love apple,” was believed to stimulate sexual desire when eaten and to help women to become pregnant. See Good News Translation footnote. This plant is mentioned in Song 7.13. A form of the Hebrew word is used in Ezek 16.8, “an age for love,” referring to sexual love.

In translation of this term it may be necessary to substitute a local plant that is believed to have the same powers as the mandrake. If no such plant is known, it may be possible to use a descriptive expression such as “plant that women eat to help them become pregnant” or “plant that helps women to have children.” Two examples from translations in the Pacific area are “a flowering plant that women eat to help them get children, and which is used as a love magic” and “some bush medicine that was growing there, a good medicine to help women to have babies.”

The field in which the boy Reuben found the mandrakes is the wheat field, which is a cultivated field in contrast to the open lands where the animals graze.

Give me, I pray, some of your son’s mandrakes: Rachel hopes that these plants will help her to become pregnant. It may be necessary to add “to eat.”

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 .