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 )

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 47:25)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the exclusive pronoun, excluding Joseph.

complete verse (Genesis 47:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 47:25:

  • Kankanaey: “They said answering, ‘You (sing.) have saved our (excl.) lives and we (excl.) will become slaves of the king if that will-please-you (sing.), sir.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They said — ‘You have saved us. Now we have become the king’s servants.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The people said, ‘Sir, you (sing.) (are) very kind to us (excl.); you (sing.) have-saved our (excl.) lives. We (excl.) agree to-become slaves of the king.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They replied, ‘You have saved our lives! We want you to be pleased with us. And we will be the king’s slaves.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 47:25

And they said: the people are saying that they agree to or accept Joseph’s terms. In some languages this must be made clear at the outset; for example, “Yes, all right…” or “We accept….”

You have saved our lives: see 19.19.

May it please my lord is literally “let us find favor in the eyes of my lord.” See Good News Translation. Note that again my lord is used with a group speaking to Joseph. See Good News Translation “you…, sir.”

We may render verse 25 as:

• And the people said to Joseph, “Sir, we agree to be slaves of the king, because you have been good to us and you have saved our lives.”

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 .