Fell on his father’s face: in 17.3 we had the expression “Abraham fell on his face,” an idiom meaning “to bow down before.” In 33.4 Esau “fell on his [Jacob’s] neck,” that is, he embraced him. Here another form of this idiom is used in the sense of a grieving embrace. Joseph’s action is that of bending down and embracing his father in great sorrow. Good News Translation and some other versions “threw himself on his father” gives a different picture—of an action that may be regarded as unnatural or very inappropriate in some cultures. This is not recommended as a model unless it accords with custom in the translator’s culture.

Wept over him, and kissed him: that is, Joseph cried and kissed his father’s face as an expression of his sorrow and love. For kiss see 27.26.

In cultures in which Joseph’s response to his father’s death may appear strange or even comical, translators have two options. Either they may substitute the kind of grief response practiced locally, or translate what Joseph did and add a footnote saying, for example, “This is the way the ancient Hebrews did, which is equivalent to the custom of…” (and state the local custom).

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 .