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

Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

complete verse (Genesis 45:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:16:

  • Kankanaey: “When the king and his rulers/officials heard-reported that the siblings of Jose had arrived, they were all happy,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After the news arrived in Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his officials all rejoiced.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When the news reached the palace of the king of Egipto that the siblings/(brothers) of Jose had-come/-arrived, the king and his officials were-pleased/-happy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Someone went to the palace and told the news that Joseph’s brothers had come. The king and all his officials were pleased.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:16

Verses 16-20 relate the instructions given by the king to have Jacob brought to Egypt and the promises made to take care of him and his people.

When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house: report refers to the news of the presence of Joseph’s brothers. Pharaoh’s house is “Pharaoh’s palace” or “the king’s palace.” The news of Joseph’s brothers probably passed from Joseph’s officers to those in the king’s court, who relayed it to the king. We may translate, for example, “When the news reached the king’s palace…” or “At the king’s palace it was learned that….”

Joseph’s brothers have come: Revised Standard Version treats this as quoted speech. However, most translations handle this information as an indirect report: “that Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt.”

It pleased Pharaoh and his servants well is literally “and it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants.” This is the consequence of having learned that Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt. Servants are not domestic workers in the palace but officers of the king’s court, or more generally “officials.”

Some languages prefer to follow the order of the reason followed by the consequence, as in Good News Translation. Others, however, find it more natural to reverse that order; for example, “The king and his officers were very happy when the news reached the palace that Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt.”

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 .