11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man: a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”
In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)
The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 43:11:
Kankanaey: “So then their father said to them, ‘If that is so, get therefore some of the best that is in this country of ours so that you will take-it-along to arrive-with-it to the governor. What you will take, embalming-spice (balsamo), honey, kinds of perfume, mirra (Sp. loan), and the most-expensive tree fruits.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Then their father Israel said — ‘If it must be like that, do like this. Take along a few presents for that man, different medicines from here, really good honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio and chestnuts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Their father said, ‘So, if that is the case, you (pl.) go. [You (pl.)] bring in your (pl.) container the best products here from our (incl.) land in-order to-give-as-gifts to the governor of Egipto: Medicines, honey, spice, perfume, and fruits of pistasyo and almonds/almendro.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then their father Jacob said to them, ‘If there is no other way, do this: Put in your sacks some of the best things that are grown in this land, and take them down to the man as a gift. Take some balm/perfume and honey and spices and myrrh/ointment, some pistachio nuts, and almonds.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Jacob finally relents and allows Benjamin to go with his brothers.
Father Israel: see verse 8.
If it must be so, then do this is literally “If so, then do this.” The sense is “If it has to be” or “If there is no other way.” It may not be necessary to translate do this. For example, we may say “If that is the way it has to be, then take some….” See Good News Translation.
Choice fruits of the land: the meaning of the word translated choice fruits is uncertain, because it occurs only here in the Old Testament. However, some expression like “best produce” seems to fit the context well and is required to give a sense of high value to the present; some translations say, for example, “the most valuable things we have produced.” The narrator does not seem concerned to explain the existence of this produce during the severe famine.
Carry down to the man a present: that is, “Take a gift to the ruler of Egypt.”
The choice fruits are named as balm … honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. For balm, gum, and myrrh see 37.25. Balm, myrrh (ladanum), pistachio nuts, and almonds are described in Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pages 89-90|fig:ffb_Almond.htm, 93-94|fig:ffb_Balm.htm, 147-149|fig:ffb_Myrrh.htm, and 164-165|fig:ffb_Pistachio.htm. Honey, both cultivated and wild, is known throughout most of the world; but the other items in the list may not be so well known. Many translations use general terms such as “ointment,” “perfume,” and “nuts,” either along with the actual names of the items or without the names.
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 .
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