the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful

The Hebrew that is translated as “the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful” or similar in English is translated in Low German as “the Egyptians made big eyes about the very pretty woman” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

Abram

The term that is transliterated as “Abram” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign signifying sojourning with a staff, clearly differentiating it from Abraham. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Abram” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign that demonstrates that he has to wander from his home. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Abram” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

Seer also Abraham.

complete verse (Genesis 12:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 12:14:

  • Kankanaey: “When they arrived then in Egipto, the inhabitants truly saw that Sarai was extremely beautiful.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When they arrived in the land of Egypt, the ones living there saw [that she] was very beautiful.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So when- they -arrived in Egipto, the [plural] Egiptohanon saw that Sarai was very beautiful.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And as soon as they arrived in Egypt, the people in Egypt saw that his wife was indeed very beautiful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 12:14

Events now develop in the way Abram foresaw them. The focus of the story remains on Abram, even though Sarai is the center of events in verses 14-16.

When Abram entered Egypt: as in each of the earlier passages, the narrator speaks of Abram, but we must understand this to mean Abram and Sarai and all his people, or Abram and all those with him.

The Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful: the woman refers, of course, to Sarai, and it may be desirable to translate as in Good News Translation, “his wife,” or “Sarai” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Revised English Bible). Some translations bring out the fact that this was what Abram had expected, by saying “… just as he had said.” Sarai’s beauty is seen first by the people of Egypt, then by a more restricted group called “princes,” and finally by the king himself.

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 .