And Israel said: that is, “Jacob said.”

It is enough: this expression refers to the report that Joseph is alive. Here are some of the ways various translations express It is enough: “It is enough to know that…” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), “I could ask for nothing more” (Bible en français courant), “Not another word” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), “Enough!” (New Revised Standard Version), “This is all I could ask for!” (Good News Translation). Some Pacific translations have “It’s really true, now I know, ….”

I will go and see him before I die: Jacob does not mean that he will go at some distant time. In 42.38 he has already spoken of himself as being old and of his death. Jacob’s going to Egypt is urgent. Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch all express it well: “I must go and see him before I die” or “I must go and see him now before I die.” Some translations express this more fully or more idiomatically; for example: (1) “It will not be long before I die. I must go and see him first!” (2) “I must go quickly to Egypt, in case I die before I see him.” (3) “I’ll have to go and see him while my eyes have not closed yet.”

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 .