And Joseph provided: the verb provided is literally “sustain,” “support,” or “nourish” (King James Version), and the sense seems to be of a continuous action. In some English versions the past tense suggests something that Joseph did once, when he first settled the family in Goshen; a translation like Revised English Bible “supported” expresses the meaning better. In some other translations a verb form that indicates continuous or frequent action, or a rendering like “all the time he was giving food,” gives the required sense.

His father, his brothers, and all his father’s household: this may be translated literally, or adjusted to say, for example, “all his relatives.” See Good News Translation.

According to the number of their dependents is literally “according to the little ones.” Although translators vary in their renderings of this expression, most agree that the amount of food provided was determined by the number of people, and this included the smallest children. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are satisfactory models.

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 .