Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was used by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Exodus 7:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 7:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Therefore wake up very early and go with that stick which changed to be a snake and wait for him by the river bank.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Early in the morning when the Pharaoh goes toward the river you go and meet him. For the purpose of meeting him stand on the shore of the river Nile holding the staff that had become a snake.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So [you (sing.)] go to the king tomorrow morning in his going to the Nile River. There you (sing.) are-to-meet him beside the river and you (sing.) are- surely -to-bring your (sing.) staff/walking-stick that became a snake.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “But in the early morning he will go to the water, and then you will go meet him. Take the stick which previously became a snake and then go await him at the edge of the Nail river.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “Therefore, when king will go edge of river of Nile in the morning, you go to him. you stand at edge of water, grasp cane which changed into serpent in hand.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “So tomorrow morning, go to him as he is going down to the Nile River to bathe. Wait for him at the riverbank. When he comes out of the water, show him the stick, the one which became a snake.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 7:15

Go to Pharaoh is addressed only to Moses (singular), although the context suggests that Aaron would accompany him (verse 19). In the morning means “Tomorrow morning” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), but it does not specify what time of the morning. The next phrase suggests it was shortly after sunrise. As he is going out to the water may have to be rendered as “before he goes out to the water” or “when he goes down to the Nile” (Good News Translation), for the next command is to wait for him. This suggests that Moses was to “confront him” (New Jerusalem Bible) before the king could do whatever he intended to do. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “station yourself before him.”

The water, as the next clause indicates, was “the Nile” River. By the river’s brink means “on the riverbank” (Good News Translation), or “on the bank of the Nile” (New English Bible), or even “beside the Nile River” (Contemporary English Version). The river always means “the Nile” River when the setting is in Egypt. It may be assumed that the king’s palace was not far from the river, and that he bathed there regularly, as his daughter did (see 2.5).

And take in your hand the rod may be rendered simply as “Take with you,” for it is understood that a rod, or “walking stick,” is carried in the hand. (This word for rod was used at 4.2 and 4.20.) The rod which was turned into a serpent refers to Moses’ rod in 4.2-4, not to Aaron’s rod in 7.10. In some languages this will be expressed as “the walking stick that became a snake,” avoiding the passive “was turned into.” The word for serpent here is the common word for “snake,” not the word used in 7.9-12. (See the comment at 7.9.) For a more logical sequence, it may be helpful to interchange the last two clauses of this verse, as Good News Translation has done. For example, the four segments in Revised Standard Version—a, b, c, d—are rearranged in Good News Translation to a, b, d, c. It is also possible to restructure the verse in the following way: “Tomorrow morning, take the stick that turned into a snake. Then as the king goes down to the Nile River, wait for him on the river bank.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .