Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food: Oh translates the Hebrew particle of entreaty, which is often used when an inferior speaks to a person of superior rank. In English, for example, the equivalent may be “I beg you to excuse me, sir,” or “Please excuse me, sir.” Other languages have particular expressions in this kind of social context; for example, “I speak with my mouth covered, my chief,” or “I hide my face to say to you, sir.” We came down may be rendered “we came to Egypt” or “we came to this country.” In a number of translations the first time is rendered as “once before.”

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 .