complete verse (Genesis 45:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:12:

  • Kankanaey: “Then he went on to say, ‘Today/Now you all including Benjamin, you recognize that it is certainly I who am Jose.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Now all of you, and Benjamin as well, know that I am Joseph.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jose continued to say, ‘Now (it is) not hidden to you (pl.), and also to my sibling/(brother) Benjamin, that I (am) truly Jose the-(one-who) speaks to you (pl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘Look closely, and all of you can see, including my brother Benjamin, that it is really I, Joseph, who am speaking to you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:12

Joseph has finished the speech that is to be delivered to his father, and now he addresses his brothers again. In languages like English, which do not mark the second person plural forms, the reader may think that Joseph is still addressing Jacob. Good News Translation shows quite clearly that Joseph is now speaking directly to the brothers by beginning a new paragraph, and by saying “all of you, and you too, Benjamin.” In some languages it may be helpful to begin verse 12 by saying “Then Joseph spoke again to his brothers.”

And now your eyes see, and the eyes … Benjamin see: the Hebrew has “behold your eyes see.” Here “behold” focuses their attention on who he is and thus anticipates the command that comes in verse 13. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation say now. It is especially important that Benjamin, whose voice will have great influence on his father’s decision to come to Egypt, is a witness to what Joseph has said to his brothers.

That it is my mouth that speaks to you: my mouth is used to represent Joseph or what Joseph says. We may translate verse 12, for example, “Now, younger brother Benjamin, you and all the rest are witnesses to all that I have said” or “Now, all of you and especially my full brother Benjamin have seen me and know that it is I, Joseph, who have spoken to you [plural].” Another possible interpretation is that my mouth refers to the speech of Joseph that is now in the brothers’ own language: “You know I am Joseph because I am speaking to you in our [inclusive] own language.”

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 .