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)

Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

complete verse (Genesis 42:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 42:7:

  • Kankanaey: “When Jose saw his siblings, he recognized-(them) instantly, but he conversed-with them as if they were strangers and he said speaking-harshly, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘We (excl.) came-from Canaan to go buy-food-supplies,’ they said replying,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as he saw his elder brothers he recognized them. But pretending not to recognize them, he asked them loudly — ‘Where have you come from?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jose saw them, he recognized them right-away, but they on-the-other-hand did- not -recognize him. He just did- not -let- himself -to-be-noticed that he (was) Jose. He spoke harshly to them. He asked, ‘Where- (are) you (pl.) -from.’ They replied, ‘We (excl.) (are) from-Canaan, and we (excl.) came here in-order to-buy food.’ Jose then remembered his dream about them which brought-about- their -being-angry (with him). He said, ‘You (pl.) (are) spies! You (pl.) came here in-order to-see which portion/part of our (excl.) nation (is) weak in defense.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he pretended that he did not know them. He spoke harshly to them, saying, ‘Where do you come from?’ One of them replied, ‘We have come from Canaan, to buy some grain.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 42:7

Joseph saw his brothers, and knew them: that is, “When Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were [recognized them as being his brothers].”

Treated them like strangers is literally “made himself a stranger to them.” We may also translate, for example, “but he did not make himself known to them” or “did not let them know who he was.” See Good News Translation. We must remember that Joseph is now an Egyptian in dress, customs, and language. According to verse 23 he speaks to his brothers through an interpreter.

Spoke roughly to them: this is literally “spoke harsh things to them.” In some languages this is rendered “He spoke to them with hard words” or “He laid his tongue heavily on them.”

In the encounter between Joseph the ruler and his herdsmen brothers, it will be necessary to adjust the form of address in many languages that use honorific terms when speaking to a high official.

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 .