complete verse (Genesis 19:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 19:21:

  • Kankanaey: “‘Yes,’ said the one angel. ‘I-agree-to that-aforementioned that you (sing.) requested and I will exclude the town that you (sing.) spoke-about.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They said — ‘Good, Go! I will not destroy that city.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The Lord answered, ‘Yes, I will-agree to your request; I will- not -destroy that town.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One of the angels said to Lot, ‘I will allow you to do what you have requested. I will not destroy the little town you are speaking about.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Genesis 19:21

He said to him: that is, “The angel said to Lot” or “One of the angels said to Lot.”

I grant you this favor also translates the Hebrew idiom “I have lifted up your face,” which has the sense “I will do what you ask me,” or “I will grant your request” (New English Bible). In some languages it will be sufficient to make this response a simple “All right,” and readers will understand that this means that Lot’s request is granted. Some translations make the response fit the actual terms of Lot’s request by saying “All right, you can go there….”

That I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken is the favor the angel will do for Lot. Nothing has been said about destroying any cities other than Sodom and Gomorrah. It is possible that Zoar, being closely linked to the larger places, was also targeted for destruction until Lot’s special plea. A number of translations, including Good News Translation, shorten the final clause to “that town” or “that village.”

Overthrow the city: in reference to Zoar this means to tear down, overturn, and so destroy. Of which you have spoken may sometimes be rendered by “that city” or “that little town you mentioned.”

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 .