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)

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)

formal 2nd person pronoun (Spanish)

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.

Sources and for more information: P. Ellingworth in The Bible Translator 2002, p. 143ff. and R. Ross in The Bible Translator 1993, p. 217ff.

See also the use of the formal vs. the informal pronoun in the Gospels in Tuvan.

complete verse (Genesis 44:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:33:

  • Kankanaey: “Therefore if possible sir, I will be the one to take-the-place of my younger-sibling to-be-enslaved to you (sing.) so that he will have a way to go-home-with the rest of his siblings.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So here is my request — Keep me as your servant in place of him, and send him back along with his brothers.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So, sir, I only (will-be) the-(one-who) will-remain here as your (sing.) slave in exchange/instead of him, and allow him to-go-home with his siblings/(brothers).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘o, please let me remain here as your slave instead of my youngest brother, and let the boy return home with his other older brothers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:33

Judah makes his final appeal that he be allowed to take Benjamin’s place and remain as a slave. Judah’s willingness to take the place of Benjamin in order to spare Jacob’s life is clear evidence that a genuine change of heart has taken place. Joseph is about to be overcome again by emotion.

Now therefore, let your servant, I pray you … lord: for Now therefore see verse 30. Judah’s appeal expresses a consequence of all that he has said. “Therefore…,” “For these reasons…,” “Because of all I have said, I beg you, sir, to allow me to take the boy’s place and become your slave.”

Let the lad go back with his brothers: that is, “Let the boy go home with his brothers.”

Another way of translating Judah’s request is “Sir, I am prepared to stay here. I am prepared to take his place and be your slave. Please let him go back with my brothers.” In some languages it is more natural to make the request about Benjamin first: “Please let this boy go back with his brothers. I will take his place. I will be a prisoner and do all your hard work.”

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 .