complete verse (Genesis 34:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:4:

  • Newari: “He told his father to arrange a marriage with her.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Shekem said to his father Hamor, ‘Father, please find a way that I can-marry that young-lady.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Shechem said to his father Hamor, ‘Please get this girl for me. I want her to become my wife!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (ni shite)

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 show different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, ni shite (にして) or “make someone” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:4

Since Dinah does not play an active role in the story, we cannot tell if Dinah loves Shechem or not. The matter that requires negotiation, however, is the agreement of Dinah’s family to a marriage. The marriage arrangement must be made between the fathers (sometimes a mother, as in the case of Hagar and Ishmael) of the young couple. See the case of Abraham and Isaac in chapter 24, and that of Samson in Judges 14.2.

So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor: Revised Standard Version treats the Hebrew connective as a consequence. Other translations have no logical link at the beginning of this verse. Some prefer a word like “then.”

Get me this maiden for my wife: the language is surprisingly direct and may reflect the narrator’s feeling against Canaanites. Note that Good News Translation has made Shechem’s demand more polite than the original. It may be necessary to fill out Shechem’s words to make his thought clear; for example, “Ask her father to let me marry this girl” or “Buy [pay the bride price for] that woman so that we-two can marry.”

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 .

imperatives (kudasai / Japanese honorifics)

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 show different degree of politeness is through the choice of an imperative construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

In these verses, the honorific form kudasai (ください) reflects that the action is called for as a favor for the sake of the beneficiary. This polite kudasai imperative form is often translated as “please” in English. While English employs pure imperatives in most imperative constructions (“Do this!”), Japanese chooses the polite kudasai (“Do this, please.”). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )