brothers

“Brothers” has to be translated into Naro as “younger brothers and older brothers” (Tsáá qõea xu hẽé / naka tsáá kíí). All brothers are included this way, also because of the kind of plural that has been used. (Source: Gerrit van Steenbergen)

This also must be more clearly defined in Yucateco as older or younger (suku’un or Iits’in), but here there are both older and younger brothers. Yucateco does have a more general word for close relative, family member. (Source: Robert Bascom)

brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), both “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

bow to the ground

The Hebrew that is translated as “bow to the ground” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “bowing knees and face touching the ground.” (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen. 37:10)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, both the Jarai translation and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive pronoun (excluding Joseph).

complete verse (Genesis 37:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:10:

  • Kankanaey: “He also related that-aforementioned that he had dreamed to his father, but his father scolded him saying, ‘That (near hearer) dream is just-too-much! Do you (sing.) say/think that your (sing.) mother and I and your (sing.) siblings, we (excl.) will bow-down to you (sing.)?'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He also told his father about this. His father, scolding him with anger said — ‘What are you trying to say? What, now? Do I, your mother and your elderbrothers have to come and bow down to you?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jose also told his dream to his father but his father also became-angry with him. He said, ‘What is your (sing.) meaning? That we (excl.) of your (sing.) mother and your (sing.) siblings will-bow-down to you (sing.)?'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He also told his father about it. His father rebuked him, saying ‘What are you suggesting by that dream? Do you think it means that your mother and I and your older brothers will some day bow down to the ground in front of you?'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:10

To his father and to his brothers: note that Good News Translation has “to his father” but omits to his brothers; Good News Translation follows the Septuagint, which omits to his brothers, information already stated in Gen 37.9. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project has no evaluation of this problem. Anchor Bible is of the opinion that to his brothers has been added by later copyists. Translators may follow either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation but should be guided mainly by what is most natural in their own languages. Some translations make a link between verses 9 and 10 by beginning verse 10 “After that he told his father” or “He also told it to their father.”

His father rebuked him: rebuked means “scolded,” “corrected,” “reprimanded.”

What is this dream that you have dreamed?: Revised Standard Version translates this question literally; in most languages, however, the repetition dream that you have dreamed will be reduced to the simple term “dream.” The question is clearly rhetorical and expresses Jacob’s anger; in many languages it would be something like “What kind of dream is that?” The question form may need to be changed to a negative statement in some languages; for example, “You should not tell dreams like that” or “That is not the kind of dream you should tell people.”

Shall I and your mother and your brothers … before you?: Joseph’s symbolism of sun and moon in verse 9 as well as Jacob’s response in verse 10 seems to suggest that Rachel, Joseph’s mother, is still alive. However, according to 35.19 Rachel died and was buried much earlier, on the road from Bethel to Bethlehem. The reference may be to Leah as the female head of the family, or to Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, who may have become “mother” to Joseph after Rachel died; in many languages, however, a personal name should not be used in this context.

Jacob’s question is again rhetorical. Note how it has been kept as a rhetorical question in Good News Translation. This question expects a negative answer; for example, “Do you think your mother and I … bow down before you? We will not.”

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 .