complete verse (Genesis 39:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 39:15:

  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, he immediately-ran to go-out, but guess-what, he left-behind this clothing of his at my-location.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Because I cried out loudly, he left his shawl here and escaped.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So he ran out, and he left his garment.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “As soon as he heard me scream loudly, he left his loincloth with me and ran outside!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 39:15

When he heard that I lifted up my voice: lifted up my voice is a Hebrew idiom for “I called out loudly,” or “I screamed” (Good News Translation). It should be noted that the wife has no witnesses, the servants are entirely passive, and Joseph’s side of the story is never brought to light. However, as an African proverb says, “A worm in a court of birds never gets a hearing.”

Left his garment with me: with me is literally “beside me” and has the sense of “on the bed beside me.”

Fled and got out of the house: see verse 13.

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 .