grain

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “grain” (or: “corn”) is translated in Kui as “(unthreshed) rice.” Helen Evans (in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 40ff. ) explains: “Padddy [unthreshed rice] is the main crop of the country and rice the staple diet of the people, besides which [grain] is unknown and there is no word for it, and it seemed to us that paddy and rice in the mind of the Kui people stood for all that corn meant to the Jews.” “Paddy” is also the translation in Pa’o Karen (source: Gordon Luce in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 153f. ).

Other translations include: “wheat” (Teutila Cuicatec), “corn” (Lalana Chinantec), “things to eat” (Morelos Nahuatl), “grass corn” (wheat) (Chichimeca-Jonaz) (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), or ntimumma lujia / “seeds for food” (Lokạạ — “since Lokạạ does not have specific terms for maize and rice that can be described as grains”) (source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

complete verse (Genesis 41:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:22:

  • Kankanaey: “‘When I slept again, I dreamed again and I reportedly saw seven heads-of-grain on one stalk/base whose fruit was well-formed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Again, in another dream I saw seven nice, full heads of grain growing on the stalk of a plant.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But I fell-asleep again and dreamed again that I saw seven good/full heads-of-grain that came-up from a single stem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then I had another dream. I saw seven heads of grain. They were full of kernels of grain and ripe, and they were all growing on one stalk.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 41:22

The Septuagint translators supplied a transition between I awoke at the end of verse 21 and I saw at the opening of verse 22 so that verse 22 says “And I fell asleep again and I saw.” Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew text, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project ranks as a {B}. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating the Hebrew text in verse 22 as “Then I fell again to dreaming” or “Then I saw again in my dream….”

In some languages it may be necessary for the translator to make clear that, after the king awoke at the end of verse 21, he had to go to sleep a second time before he could dream again. In such cases the language may require the same kind of transition as that supplied by the Septuagint translators.

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 .