Translation commentary on Genesis 41:22

The Septuagint translators supplied a transition between I awoke at the end of verse 21 and I saw at the opening of verse 22 so that verse 22 says “And I fell asleep again and I saw.” Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew text, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project ranks as a {B}. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating the Hebrew text in verse 22 as “Then I fell again to dreaming” or “Then I saw again in my dream….”

In some languages it may be necessary for the translator to make clear that, after the king awoke at the end of verse 21, he had to go to sleep a second time before he could dream again. In such cases the language may require the same kind of transition as that supplied by the Septuagint translators.

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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