Translation commentary on Genesis 46:15

These are the sons of Leah: these points back to the names in verses 8-14. For Paddan-aram see 25.20.

Together with … Dinah: that is, “in addition to Jacob’s daughter Dinah,” “To these must be added their daughter Dinah,” “And there was also his daughter Dinah,” or “Leah also had one daughter named Dinah.”

Altogether … thirty-three: that is, “Jacob’s sons and daughter were thirty-three” or “Altogether Jacob and Leah had thirty-three sons and daughters.” Apart from the need to include “daughter” in this case, it is also necessary in some languages to say “sons and grandsons” rather than just “sons” here and in the other places where a total number of family members is given.

Although verse 15 says his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three, Dinah is the only female in the list, and she is apparently not counted as one of the thirty-three. Note the wording of Good News Translation.

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 .

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