God's house

The Hebrew in Genesis 28:22 that is translated as “God’s house” in English is translated in Makonde as “a place to worship you, God” because the direct translation of “God’s house” is the word used in Makonde for “temple.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Genesis 28:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 28:22:

  • Kankanaey: “This rock moreover that I have placed-upright here, that will be a place-where- people -worship you (sing.). Everything also that you (sing.) give me, I will return a tenth of it to you (sing.).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And this rock which I have set up [lit.: caused to stand] will be God’s house. And [I] will offer to him one part in ten parts from whatever he gives [me].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This stone that I have-erected as a remembrance will-testify to your (sing.) presence in this place. And I will-give you the tenth of all that you will-give to me.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “This stone that I have set up will mark the place where people can worship you. And I will give back to you a tenth of everything that you give to me.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

respectful form of "give" (kudasaru)

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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 to do this is through the usage of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.

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

See also respectful form of “give” (tamawaru) and give (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Genesis 28:22

The second part of Jacob’s vow or promise is this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. The text makes clear that the stone and not the place generally is to be God’s house. The sense of God’s house is “a place for worshiping God,” “a place to pray to God.” Accordingly we may translate this sentence, for example, “This stone I have set up as a marker will be the place where people come to worship you.”

And of all that thou givest me I will give the tenth to thee completes the three promises or vows made by Jacob to God. The regular practice of the tithe, which came much later, is discussed in Deut 14.22-29; 26.12-15. In some languages to give a tenth requires saying something like “Out of every ten things you give me I will give back one to you.” In other languages this is best expressed by using the idea of dividing everything into ten parts; for example, “I will divide everything that you give me into ten heaps, and give one heap back to you.”

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 .