Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father: Thus introduces a consequence. We may also say, for example, “As a result,” “In this way,” “Now then.” In some languages it is difficult to express means with this kind of construction. Therefore it is sometimes necessary to say “In this way Lot made both his daughters pregnant” or “And so both Lot’s daughters were going to have babies because their father had made them pregnant.”

In some languages that express being pregnant as “going to have a baby,” this verse may be linked to verses 37 and 38 as a general statement that is followed by a statement about each daughter in turn; for example, “In this way they-two had babies from their own father. The firstborn had a boy and….”

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 .