The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Gbaya, the notion of cutting (or tearing) into pieces is emphasized with the ideophone sɛ́kɛ́ɗɛ́-sɛ́kɛ́ɗɛ́.
Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:33:
Kankanaey: “Their father recognized-it immediately and said, ‘That’s it emphatically! I-see- (particle of sudden realization) that a fierce animal has torn-repeatedly and eaten Jose my child!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “He recognized that upper garment and then said — ‘This is my son’s upper garment. A wild animal having killed him, must have chewed him to pieces and eaten him.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jacob then recognized the garment. He said, ‘It belongs-to-him/[lit. His that]! He (was) killed by a ferocious animal! (It is) very/[emphasis marker] certain that he has-been-devoured by an animal.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “He recognized it, and he said, ‘Yes, it is my son’s robe! Some ferocious/wild animal must have attacked and killed him! I am sure that the animal has torn Joseph to pieces!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
He recognized it: Jacob saw that it was Joseph’s robe. In some languages it may be more natural to say, for example, “He looked at it and said ‘Yes, it is my son’s robe….’ ”
A wild beast has devoured him: wild beast renders a term used for wild animals in contrast to domestic ones. In translation this may be represented as in Good News Translation or by the name of an animal of prey that attacks and kills domestic animals. Devoured in English expresses the greedy eating of a hungry animal. It may be necessary to say “has killed and eaten him.”
Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces: the Hebrew expression is a lament in which the words have repeating sounds or alliteration: tarof toraf yosef. A few translations have tried to bring out the element of mourning by using traditional lament forms in this sentence; for example, “Oh my son Joseph! Something has destroyed him!”
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 .
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