complete verse (Genesis 37:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:20:

  • Kankanaey: “Let’s kill-him-now so-that we will then drop-him into a well. We can say that a fierce animal has killed-him. Then we will see if indeed what he dreamed comes-true.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Killing him, we will drop him in a well here. Then we will say that a wild animal killed and ate him. Then we will indeed see what becomes of his dreams.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Hurry, let- us (incl.) -kill him and then throw-(him) into one of these wells where water is stored. We (incl.) will- just -say that he was-killed by a ferocious animal. And let- us (incl.) -see if his dreams will-be-fulfilled.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and ‘Hey, let’s kill him, and then throw his body into one of the pits/cisterns. Then we will tell people that a ferocious/wild animal attacked and killed him and ate him. And then we will find out whether his dreams come true/make sure that his dreams do not come true!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

3rd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 third person singular and plural pronoun (e.g. he and they and their various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. While it’s not uncommon to avoid pronouns altogether in Japanese, there are is a range of third person pronouns that can be used.

In these verses a number of them are used that pay particularly much respect to the referred person (or, in fact, God, as in Exodus 15:2), including koitsu (こいつ), soitsu (そいつ), and aitsu (あいつ), meaning “this person/one,” “that person/one,” and “that person/one over there.” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and second person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:20

Come now is a call to action such as “Let’s go,” “Come on, everybody.”

One of the pits: pits renders a word meaning a hole or cistern that has been dug for catching and holding rain water. The cistern was apparently dry or nearly so. The fact the brothers had to go so far to find pasture suggests that this scene takes place in the dry season of the year. Such storage cisterns are said to have been abundant in the Dothan area.

In language areas where cisterns are unknown, it may be necessary to use a descriptive expression such as “one of these holes in the ground for catching rain water.”

Then we shall say: in some languages it will be necessary to indicate the person who is told. In this case “We shall tell our father….”

A wild beast … him: that is, “a wild animal has eaten him.”

We shall see what will become of his dreams: this statement refers to the dreams becoming a reality. By killing Joseph none of the brothers or his parents will ever have to bow down to him, they think. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate the text closely, but it may be necessary to show more clearly what the brothers mean by what will become of his dreams. For example, we may do this by saying “Then we will see if these dreams come true” or “… if there is any truth in his dreams.” Some translations are even more direct than this: “That will put an end to his dreams!” or “We’ll do that because we don’t want him to be our boss!”

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 .