complete verse (Genesis 36:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 36:8:

  • Newari: “So Esau went and settled in the land of Seir in the hills called Edom.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Esau (who (was) also called Edom) settled there in the mountains of Seir.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They went to live in the Seir hilly area.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 36:8

So Esau dwelt in the hill country of Seir: So in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation introduces a further consequence. Dwelt in this context suggests that Esau “went to live” or “made his home.” Hill country translates “on the mountain” and refers to the mountainous country of Seir.

Esau is Edom: see verse 1. Rather than adding this identification at the end of the verse, many translations fit it in to the sentence. For example, Bible en français courant says “It is thus that Esau, also called Edom, lived in the mountain of Seir.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “For this reason Esau, that is Edom, went to live in the mountainous region of Seir.”

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 .