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 )

Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

complete verse (Genesis 46:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 46:31:

  • Kankanaey: “Then Jose said to his siblings and other members of his father’s family, ‘I am going to the king so that I will make-known that you have come who are the family of my father and my siblings from Canaan.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘Now I will go to the King and tell him that my father, [my] brothers, and [their] households who were in Canaan have come here.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Jose said to his siblings/(brothers) and to the entire household of his father, ‘I will-go and tell the king of Egipto that my siblings/(brothers) and the entire household of my father who lived in Canaan have- now -arrived.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Joseph said to his older brothers and younger brother and to the rest of his father’s family, ‘I will go to the king and say to him, ‘My older brothers and younger brother and my father and the rest of his family, who were living in Canaan land, have all come to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 46:31

Revised Standard Version uses both double quote marks and single quote marks in verses 31-34, because it renders the text as quoted speech within speech. Note that Good News Translation simplifies this by using indirect speech and avoiding the single quotes.

I will go up and tell Pharaoh: the sense of this is that Joseph was obliged to report back to the king, or that this was necessary to get permission for Jacob and his family to settle in Goshen. Therefore some translations say “Now I have to tell the king” or “I must report to the king about you.”

Father’s household: that is, “the others of my father’s family.” See Good News Translation.

Have come to me: that is, “have come to be near me,” or “have come to join me.”

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 .