complete verse (Genesis 31:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:4:

  • Newari: “So he sent to summon Rachel and Leah to the place where his cattle were.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Jacob had- his wives Raquel and Lea -called there to the grazing-field of his animals.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Jacob sent a message to Rachel and Leah, telling them to come out to the pastures where his flocks of sheep and goats were.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 31:4

In verses 4-13 Jacob arranges a private conversation with his wives and explains how God enabled his flocks to increase and enabled him to overcome the hardships Laban had imposed upon him.

So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field: So marks a consequence of the events in Gen 31.3. Sent and called means Jacob sent someone to tell his wives to come to him. Field refers to the pasture or grazing area where his flocks were feeding. He was there with his animals. New English Bible and Revised English Bible refer to this as “in the country,” while some other translations say simply “the place where his flocks were” (Good News Translation Australian edition and others).

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 .