The Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “clothes” or similar in English is translated in Enlhet as “crawling-in-stuff” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ) and in Noongar as bwoka or “Kangaroo skin” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 39:18:
Kankanaey: “But I screamed, therefore he immediately-ran to go-out and he left-behind this clothing of his at my-location.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “After I cried out loudly he escaped, leaving his shawl.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But when I shouted he ran out, and even his garment was-left-behind.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “As soon as I screamed loudly, he ran outside, leaving me holding his loincloth!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
For the wording of this verse, see verses 14 and 15.
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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