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)

Joseph

The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

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)

complete verse (Genesis 37:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:13:

  • Kankanaey: “Jacob said to Jose, ‘I want you (sing.) to go to Sekem where- your (sing.) older-siblings -are-pasturing the sheep and goats.’ ‘Yes indeed,’ he said answering.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Israel said to him — ‘Your elder brothers have gone to Shechem to graze sheep. You go there.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Jacob said to Jose, ‘Your (sing.) siblings (are) there in Shekem watching-over the animals. [You (sing.)] go there and [you (sing.)] see if good is the situation of your (sing.) siblings and the animals. Then [you (sing.)] come-back and tell me.’ Jose replied, ‘Yes, father.’ So from the Valley of Hebron, Jose went to Shekem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Some time later, Jacob said to Joseph, ‘Your brothers are taking care of the sheep and goats near Shechem. I am going to send you there to see them.’ Joseph replied, ‘Okay.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:13

Israel said to Joseph: see the translation suggestion regarding Israel in Gen 37.3.

From Hebron, where Jacob is located (see 35.27), to Jerusalem is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) and Shechem is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Jerusalem. Thus Jacob’s sons have gone nearly 96 kilometers (60 miles) north of Hebron to find pasture.

Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem?: the Hebrew uses a rhetorical question, which is equivalent to a statement. Many languages will prefer a statement in this context. See Good News Translation.

Come, I will send you to them translates the Hebrew literally. See Good News Translation.

Joseph’s response to his father is Here I am or literally “Behold me.” Joseph is not telling his father where he is but is using this idiom to tell his father that he is ready to do as asked. In some languages the equivalent response is “All right, sir,” “I am at your service, father.” Bible en français courant says “Yes, father,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I will go with great pleasure”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is like Good News Translation: “I am ready.”

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 .