After the opening clause, which repeats the thought of verse 5, this verse has two parts that are parallel in meaning.

To preserve for you a remnant on earth is literally “to establish for you a remainder on earth.” Remnant translates a noun related to a verb meaning to be left over or to remain after something has destroyed the rest. The ones left over (from the destructive famine) in this case are people of the future who will be born to individuals like the brothers; therefore the sense is “descendants.” Accordingly we may render the first half of this verse as “God sent me ahead of you [plural] to make sure you [plural] will have descendants.” It is understood that these descendants will be on earth, and so the words on earth may not be needed.

And to keep alive for you many survivors: keep alive translates a form of a verb meaning to cause to live, or to preserve alive. Survivors translates a noun that refers to people who have escaped some deadly tragedy. However, there is another view of the words rendered many survivors. The word translated many by Revised Standard Version may also mean “great,” “extraordinary,” “powerful”; and the word translated survivors may be understood as “escaping or causing to escape,” which is “deliverance.” This is the view of Driver and Anchor Bible and is followed by such versions as New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New American Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy. In this case we may translate, for example, “Therefore God sent me ahead of you [plural] to this country so that you might have descendants, and to save your lives in this marvelous way.” Although this is the interpretation recommended by the Handbook, the rendering of Revised Standard Version, which is also followed by Revised English Bible and Good News Translation, is also possible.

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 .