complete verse (Genesis 24:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:24:

  • Kankanaey: “That young-lady said, ‘My father, it is Betuel who is the child of Nahor and Milca.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “She answered — ‘My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rebeka replied, ‘I am the child of Betuel the son of Nahor and Milca.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “She replied, ‘My father’s name is Bethuel. He is the son of Nahor and his wife Milcah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 24:24

She said to him: that is, “She answered him.”

I am the daughter of Bethuel: Rebekah identifies herself through her male line, father and grandfather. The translation of this short lineage should be handled in the manner most commonly used in the translator’s language. Good News Translation gives one model. Bible en français courant says “I am the daughter of Bethuel and the granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “My father’s name is Bethuel … his parents are Milcah and Nahor.”

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 .