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.

complete verse (Genesis 27:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 27:8:

  • Kankanaey: “Listen- then carefully (lit. correctly) -to what I instruct you (sing.) so-that you (sing.) will carefully/thoroughly do-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So listen to me now and do as I say.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So child, obey what I will-command you (sing.):” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So now, my son, do what I am telling you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 27:8

Rebekah has devised a plan to cheat Esau, and she urges Jacob to act quickly.

Now therefore translates the same Hebrew expression used at the opening of Gen 27.3. It may be translated by a transition word or by an expression marking a consequence.

Obey my word is literally “hear my voice.” This expression suggests more than passive hearing and may be rendered “do” or “obey.” This is often rendered by other idioms such as “act on my two words” or “do as my mouth says.”

As I command you: this expression is sometimes combined with obey my word, so that the meaning is equivalent to “Listen to me and do what I tell you.” See Good News Translation.

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 .