The Covenant with Abraham

Artwork by Sister Marie Claire , SMMI (1937–2018) from Bengaluru, India.

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complete verse (Genesis 15:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 15:20:

  • Newari: “the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Hithanon, Periznon, Refaimnon,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “the Heth, the Periz, the Repha,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 15:19 - 15:21

These verses contain a list of territories occupied by peoples whose land was promised to Abram’s descendants. In some languages a change of structure or some repetition will be required to manage a list of this length. One translation, for instance, introduces the list by saying “The people who hold this land at the present time are:….” Another begins a new sentence at verse 19 and lists the names of the various tribes first; it then goes on, “Well, all the country of all those people, I will give it to your descendants.”

The Kenites and the Kenizzites were tribes in the Negeb desert that were later absorbed into the Israelite tribe of Judah. Kadmonites, used only here, means “easterners” and may be the people in 29.1 referred to as “sons of the east.” For Hittites see 10.15. For Perizzites see 13.7. The Rephaim are mentioned in 14.5, the Amorites in 10.16, and the Canaanites in 10.18; Girgashites and Jebusites are discussed in 10.16.

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 .