Joseph

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)


“Joseph” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joseph .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

forget

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

cupbearer

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated in English as “cupbearer” is translated in Newari as “new wine vessel holder.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

complete verse (Genesis 40:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 40:23:

  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon the leader of the drink-servers utterly forgot Jose.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph. He forgot him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But the head of the ones-who serve drink did- not at-all -remember Jose.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But the chief drink-server did not think about Joseph. He forgot to do what Joseph asked him to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 40:23

Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him: did not remember Joseph is the narrator’s way of saying he did not speak to the king about Joseph. It is possible to translate this verse in terms of not speaking to the king about Joseph or not remembering him. For example, we may say “In spite of being restored, the wine servant did not speak to the king about Joseph” or “After he had his former job again, the wine servant did not give Joseph a thought. He forgot him.”

We must remember that the silence of the wine servant is a device of the narrator for building suspense in the story. Also it is important that the two officials never replied to anything Joseph said when he interpreted their dreams. The narrator has carefully developed the complications in the story. Since coming to Egypt Joseph’s initial rise to influence in Potiphar’s house ended in his imprisonment. While in prison he again rose to a position of trust only to be abandoned, at least for the next two years, by the one man who could speak to the king for 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 .