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 word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Genesis 12:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 12:15:

  • Kankanaey: “And some of the officials (Sp. loan opisyal) of the king, they spoke-highly/bragged-about her beauty to the king. So he had-her-invited so-that she would join his housemates.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Seeing her, the people of the palace went to Pharaoh and praised her. Seeing her, the people of the palace went to Pharaoh and praised her. And took her along to the palace.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And when the officers of the king saw her, they told the king how beautiful she was. So Sarai was-brought there to the palace.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When the king’s officials saw her, they told the king how beautiful she was. And they took her to the king’s palace.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 12:15

And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her: princes according to Speiser are not necessarily sons of the king, but rather highly placed officers. Good News Translation says “court officials,” Bible en français courant “officers of the Pharaoh,” New English Bible “Pharaoh’s courtiers.” Pharaoh, which is the English spelling of the Hebrew word, is the title held by the king of Egypt, and is not the personal name of the king. In some languages Pharaoh may be translated “chief of all the Egyptians,” “the Egyptian king,” or, as in Good News Translation, “king.”

They praised her to Pharaoh: praised translates the usual word for praising God; but it is also used with people as the object. See for example 2 Sam 14.25; Song 6.9. Their praise or speaking well of Sarai concerns her beauty, and so Good News Translation says “told the king how beautiful she was.” In some languages it will be more natural to use a direct quotation for praised her; for example, one translation has “… said to the king, ‘A very beautiful woman has come.’ ” Another uses a local colloquial way of speaking that may be expressed in English as “they told the king, ‘[Exclamation!], that woman is very nice!’ ”

And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house: the woman refers again to Sarai. Was taken must often be expressed as active; for example, “They took Sarai to….” Into Pharaoh’s house means more than it says. Note that some translations say “Pharaoh’s household” (New English Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). The sense to be understood, as is clear in verse 19, is that the king made her one of his harem, or made her one of his palace wives. If “took her into his palace” is too vague, we may translate, for example, “and she became a wife of the king” or “the king brought her to his palace to be one of his wives.” Another way, which suggests rather than states the meaning directly, is “the king took her to stay with him in his house.”

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 .