complete verse (Genesis 48:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 48:4:

  • Kankanaey: “‘I will cause- your (sing.) children -to-become-many in-the-future and your descendants will become large nations. I will give them this land so that they will take-possession-of it forever.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘I will give you many descendants. I will make various nations from you. I have given this place to you, and this will be for you and your descendants forever forever.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He said, ‘I will-give you (sing.) many descendants so-that you (sing.) will-become father of many people. And I will-give the land of Canaanto your (sing.) descendants and this will-become theirs forever/[lit. until whenever].’ ‘” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and said to me, ‘I am going to enable you to become the father of many children. You will have many descendants, and they will become the ancestors of many people-groups. And I will give this land to your descendants to possess forever.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 48:3 - 48:4

Jacob said to Joseph: the lack of a greeting at the beginning of Jacob’s speech will make this situation appear unreal in many languages. Accordingly it may be necessary to say, for example, “Jacob greeted Joseph and said to him….”

God Almighty … Luz: this and verse 4 refer to the event in 35.11-13. For God Almighty see 35.11.

I will make you fruitful … company of peoples: for the translation of this expression, see 28.3, where Isaac sent Jacob to Mesopotamia to get a wife. For everlasting possession see 17.8.

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 .