midwife

The Hebrew that is translated as “midwife” in English is translated in Kwere as “old woman.” (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the Thai Common Language version it is “a woman who helps the womb.” (See Translation commentary on Exod 1:15.)

complete verse (Genesis 35:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 35:17:

  • Newari: “When the birthpains became severe, the midwife said to her — ‘Don’t be afraid, once more a son has been born.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When her labor-pains (were) now very intense, the midwife said to her, ‘[You (sing.)] do- not -be-afraid Raquel, your (sing.) child (is) another boy.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When her pain was the most severe, the midwife/woman who helped her to give birth said to Rachel, ‘Do not be afraid, because now you have given birth to another son!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 35:17

And when she was in her hard labor: hard labor is repeated from the previous verse. For stylistic reasons many translators use a different expression here. We may say, for example, “When she was in the greatest pain” or “When she was hurting the most.” The text does not actually say that the baby was born at this time, but the words of the midwife show that it was. In some languages this is a necessary piece of information; so the translation must say, for example, “When she was in great pain her child was born; and the woman who….”

The midwife said to her: midwife refers to the woman who delivers the baby and cares for the mother. In translation, if there is no special term for this person, it is possible to say, for example, “the woman who helped her give birth” or “the woman who lifted the baby out.”

Fear not; for now you will have another son: in other contexts this is usually spoken by God or an angel to a person in trouble. The admonition of the midwife is to encourage Rachel and give her strength by telling her that she has a son. For the use of this expression in the same kind of circumstances, see the case of the wife of Phinehas in 1 Sam 4.20. The midwife’s words do not refer to future time, as Revised Standard Version may suggest. She is speaking of the present birth: “now you have another son,” “you have given birth to another boy,” or “it’s another boy!”

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 .