complete verse (Genesis 40:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 40:10:

  • Kankanaey: “whose branches were three. When it had just-leafed, it flowered and bore-fruit (lit. fruited). Just-a-little-while also and its fruit was-ripe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And on the grapevine there were three branches. Furthermore, as soon as the buds opened, flowers also blossomed. Then, it became full of ripe grapes.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and it had three branches. It sprouted, blossomed, and its fruit ripened.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “On the vine there were three branches. After the branches budded, they blossomed, and then they produced clusters of grapes.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 40:10

On the vine there were three branches: these branches grow out of the main stem, which is the vine.

As soon as it budded means as soon as buds appeared on the branches. The buds produce the leaves on the vine, which nourish the vine and enable the fruit to grow.

Its blossoms shot forth: that is, the flowers, which must appear before the fruit can grow, came out suddenly, and the tiny grape clusters that follow the blossoms quickly became ripe grapes. An example of the way this part of the verse may be translated is “This vine had three arms, and when the arms got leaves, immediately the vine flowered and bore fruit that were ripe.”

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 .