ancestors

The Hebrew and Ge’ez that is translated as “ancestors” in English is translated in Kwere as “deceased ancestors” because the word for “ancestor” can also mean “grandfather.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Genesis 31:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:3:

  • Newari: “Just at that time the LORD said to Jacob — ‘Go back to the place of your father and his affinal kin. I will be with you.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The LORD said to Jacob, ‘[You (sing.)] go-home now to the place of your (sing.) ancestors, there to your relatives, and I will-be-with you.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Yahweh said to Jacob, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will help you there.'” (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 31:3

In this verse the LORD tells Jacob to return to Canaan.

Then the LORD: Then translates the Hebrew connective and refers to a subsequent event. We may also say, for example, “After that,” or “Later,” or it may not be necessary to use any transition expression.

Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred: for a similar expression see 12.1; 24.4, 38.

And I will be with you may need to be rendered “I will go with you,” or stated more fully, “I will go with you and help 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 .