complete verse (Genesis 45:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:18:

  • Kankanaey: “so that then they will fetch your father and their families to return here. Because I will give them the best land here in Egipto and it will more-than suffice for them to-live-on.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And bringing their father and [their] families, to come back here. I will give them the best fields of Egypt. And they will be able to live with joy, eating the grain that bears fruit there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then they (should) bring their father and their families here, for I will-give to them the best land in Egipto and they will-taste the best of its products.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then bring your father and your families back here. I will give you the best land in Egypt, and you will have the best food in the land to eat.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:18

Take your father and your households, and come to me: for take your father Revised English Bible say “Fetch your father…,” which means “go and get.” We may also say, for example, “bring your father….” Households means “families” or “relatives.” When he says come to me, the king speaks of Egypt as being himself. It may be more natural to say “come back to Egypt” or “come back here.”

I will give you the best of the land of Egypt: best means “the best area,” “the best region.” When spoken to herdsmen (as Jacob’s family are), best has a quite different meaning than it would have when spoken to farmers. The king has in mind areas where animals will find the best pastures. We may translate as the “best region [or, territory; or, area] of Egypt” or “the best pasture lands in Egypt.”

You shall eat the fat of the land: in 27.28 Isaac blesses Jacob with “the fatness of the earth,” which refers to the land’s rich fertility and growth. In Ezek 34.14 a “good pasture” is called in Hebrew “a fat pasture.” In this verse fat of the land refers to good produce, as Bible en français courant translates: “You will have available the best produce of the country.” We may also say, for example, “You [plural] will have the best food there is to eat in this country.”

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 .