obedience / obey

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek that is translated in English typically as “obedience” or “obey” is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “thing hearing,” because “to hear is to obey.” (Source: Marjorie Davis in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff. )

In Huba it is translated as hya nǝu nyacha: “follow (his) mouth.” (Source: David Frank in this blog post )

In Central Mazahua it is translated as “listen-obey” and in Huehuetla Tepehua as “believe-obey” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in Noongar as dwangka-don, lit. “hear do” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also disobedience.

brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Genesis 27:43)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 27:43:

  • Newari: “So listen to what I have to say. Escape quickly to my elder brother Laban’s place in Haran.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore [you (sing.)] listen to what- I -will-say: [You (sing.)] flee to Haran, there to my sibling/(brother) Laban.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So now, my son, listen carefully to what I am telling you. Escape quickly and go and stay with my brother Laban, in Haran town.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 27:43

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: Now therefore represents a transition and a consequence of Esau’s plan to kill Jacob. Obey my voice is literally “hear my voice.” See Gen 27.8. Note Good News Translation “do what I say.”

Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran: arise does not suggest that Jacob is sitting or lying when he is addressed by his mother. Arise here means “get ready,” “hurry,” “go at once.” Flee means to “go quickly,” “escape.”

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 .