honorific (Gen. 12:11), vocative (Gen. 12:11)

The phrase that is translated as “he said to Sarai his wife” into English presented a problem in Falam Chin. Hebrew contains no vocative (a case used in addressing or invoking a person or thing), but Falam requires one for politeness, and its absence is rude. The normal way for a husband to address his wife is “mother of X” but Sarai is childless. The Falam Chin translation ended with a sort of vocative substitute: “Let me tell you what is in my heart.”

Sarai / Sarah

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Sarai” and “Sarah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign depicting coins on a headband, referring to women from the Middle East and North Africa who wear a headband decorated with small coins. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Sarai” and “Sarah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Sarah .

complete verse (Genesis 12:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 12:11:

  • Kankanaey: “When they had almost arrived in Egipto, Abram said to his spouse Sarai, ‘You (sing.) are admittedly a beautiful woman.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When it seemed [that they had] arrived in the land of Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai — ‘You are very beautiful.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When they were-about-to-arrive in Egipto, Abram said to his wife, ‘Sarai, you (sing.) (are) a beautiful woman.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Just as they were about to enter Egypt, Abram said to his wife Sarai, ‘Listen, I know that you are a very beautiful woman.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 12:11

When he was about to enter Egypt: Egypt doubtless refers to the rich delta area of the Nile in lower Egypt. Good News Translation “cross the border” may be more precise in the situation than the narrator had in mind. The idea is that Abram was approaching the area where there would be Egyptian military units guarding the road to the delta. In some languages we may say “When Abram was very close to Egypt” or “When Abram and those with him were about to go into Egypt.”

In the dialogue that follows, Sarai does not reply. However, it appears from the story that she obeyed and helped carry out her husband’s deceit. In Hebrew, as in many other languages, wife and woman are the same word.

I know that you are a woman beautiful to behold: the Hebrew begins with an expression that may be translated “Listen” or “Look here.” It calls attention to an action to be undertaken. Many modern translations like Good News Translation omit it. However, Bible en français courant opens the dialogue with “Listen,” Moffatt has “Come,” and Speiser “Look.” I know has the sense of “I am aware,” “I realize.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “I am worried because….”

A woman beautiful to behold is better rendered in English by Good News Translation “You are a beautiful woman.” Gen. 17.17 indicates that Abram was ten years older than Sarai. This means that Sarai was sixty-five years old when they left Haran. It may be asked how at sixty-five Sarai could be considered a beautiful woman. Two answers are offered: Some speculate that the aging process was much slower then than it is today. However, others argue that the text in 12.4 is from a different author than the text in 12.11, and that later editors allowed this difficulty to remain.

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 .