But his father refused: that is, “refused to move his hand.”

I know … I know: the repetition of I know emphasizes Jacob’s certainty in what he has done. In some languages repetition of this kind will have the effect of casting doubt on what he has done; in this case some other appropriate expression of emphasis should be used. One translation has Jacob say “I know what I’m doing.”

He also shall become a people: he refers to Manasseh and may need to be expressed in that way. Become a people means his descendants will become a tribe or nation, which is further qualified as great or “important.”

Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he: this statement is introduced by a contrast. His younger brother refers to Ephraim, and it may be clearer to say, for example, “but Ephraim will be greater than Manasseh.”

His descendants … nations: descendants is literally “seed,” and multitude translates a word meaning “fullness,” or that which fills up a space, and therefore “a great number” or “many.” The term translated nations is the same as in 17.4-5.

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 .