complete verse (Genesis 45:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:11:

  • Kankanaey: “so that I have a way to take-care-of you. Because there will still be five years of famine, and I don’t-want you and your families and your livestock to be-lacking.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you live there I will be able to care for you. For there are also five years of famine still remaining. Otherwise you will have no guardian” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I will-take-good-care of him there in Goshen because there are still five years of famine that will-come. I do- not -want that he and his household as-well-as his animals to become-hungry.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Since there will be five more years of famine, I will make sure that you have food. If you do not come here, you and your family and all of your servants will starve.”” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:11

There I will provide for you: provide translates a verb meaning to “nourish,” “sustain,” or “support.” Joseph assures his father that he personally will take care of their needs or, as Bible en français courant says more concretely, “I will supply you with food here.” A number of translations say simply “I will look after you.” Joseph addresses Jacob, but included are all of his dependents too, as the final clause in this verse shows.

For there are yet five years of famine to come: see verse 6.

Lest you and your household … come to poverty: your household refers to Jacob’s family or extended family. All that you have refers to Jacob’s herds. Come to poverty renders a verb that normally means to inherit or take possession of something. However, the form used here means to “be impoverished” or to “be lacking.”

Verse 11 may require some adjusting to make it clear. We may translate, for example, “I can supply you with food here in Goshen—food for you, your family, and your animals, so that you will lack nothing. This famine is going to last five more years.” Another model is “This famine is going to last five more years, but here in Goshen I can give you enough food for you, your family, and your animals. Here you will not starve.”

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 .