mourn

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “mourn” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “have one’s heart broken” or “have a bursting heart” (source: Newari Back Translation).

complete verse (Genesis 37:35)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:35:

  • Kankanaey: “Even though all his children came to go comfort him, he was still just the same not able-to-be-comforted, because he said, ‘Let-(me)-alone, I will continue to mourn-for my child until I die and I am joined to him in the location of the spirits of the dead.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “All his children came and tried to comfort him, [but] he would not agree. He said — ‘I will stay in mourning for my son [until] I go to place of my son.’ This was how heart-broken he felt for his son.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He was-comforted by all his children but he still kept-on [emphasis marker] his continuous-mourning. He said, ‘You (pl.) just leave- me -be/alone! I will-die [linker] mourning because of the death of my child.’ And his crying continued because of Jose.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “All of his children came to try to comfort him, but he did not pay attention to what they said. He said, ‘No, I will still be mourning/crying when I die and go to be with my son.’ So Joseph’s father continued to cry because of what had happened to his son.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:35

Sons and … daughters: although we know only the name of one daughter, Dinah, Jacob may have had other daughters.

Rose up to comfort him: in 21.32 rose up indicates the immediate action of the following verb “returned.” Comfort expresses the effort of consoling Jacob. We may translate “tried to comfort.” See Good News Translation. Comfort means to do and say things that would help relieve him of his sorrow, make him feel better, forget his grief.

He refused to be comforted: that is, “he could not forget his sorrow,” “he could not be made to feel better,” or “he would not let them comfort him.” In some languages where “comfort” refers to what people say, this is expressed as “he would not listen to them.”

Go down to Sheol: this is the first occurrence of Sheol in Genesis. Sheol was regarded as a dark and gloomy place where all the dead were in a shadowy and slowly disappearing existence. It was believed to be beneath the earth; therefore the expression is “go down to Sheol.” See the illustration of the ancient view of the world|fig:Universe_Image0.jpg. The word occurs frequently in such books as Job, Psalms, and Proverbs. A common translation of Sheol is “world of the dead.” See Good News Translation.

Sheol should not be translated by a word for “hell,” a place of punishment. In the context of verse 35 we may translate, for example, “I will go to my grave,” “I will die and be buried.” If it is desired, a footnote or word list may include Sheol and may be described as above.

To my son, mourning: Jacob, convinced that Joseph has been killed, says that he will go to Sheol in mourning. Modern versions differ somewhat in the way they understand this verse. Some take it that he will still be mourning for his son when he goes down to Sheol, and others that he will still be mourning when he joins his son in Sheol. Good News Translation represents the former and Revised Standard Version the latter. Bible en français courant is more in agreement with Revised Standard Version when it translates “I will still be in mourning when I join my son in the world of the dead,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I will remain in mourning for my son until I join him among the dead.” Revised English Bible prefers the sense of Good News Translation, “I shall go to Sheol mourning for my son.” Both of these interpretations are acceptable.

Thus his father wept for him: Thus, as a marker of conclusion, is the Revised Standard Version rendering of the Hebrew connective. Weeping is part of the mourning ritual. The thought expressed is that Jacob continued mourning (including weeping) in spite of his children’s efforts to comfort or console him. See Good News Translation.

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 .