You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt: Joseph is addressing all the brothers. Splendor translates a Hebrew word that was used for “wealth” in 31.1. In 34.19 the same word was used for the “honor” of Shechem and here also has the sense of glory, honor, or fame. New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to say “how greatly I am honored.” In some languages this idea is best expressed as “Tell my father how the people of Egypt praise me” or “… honor me.” Some modern translations interpret the word in this context to mean “authority”: “about my authority in this country.” Good News Translation has “how powerful I am”; other translations say “that I have a high rank” or “that I am very important.” All that you have seen, in the context of Joseph’s power and splendor, most likely refers to Joseph’s style of life and his commanding presence. We may translate this expression, for example, “and the things you have seen me do” or “the way of my life you have seen.”

Make haste repeats part of the opening of verse 9 and so encloses verses 9-13 with the same command.

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 .