self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (Genesis 41:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:21:

  • Kankanaey: “but there was no means-of-distinguishing that they had eaten-(them), because so-it-was just the same that they were extremely-skinny. Then I woke-up.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even though they had eaten like this, no one could tell that they had eaten. For they were just as thin as they had been before. Just at that time I woke up.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But after they ate, it just seemed that it would not be-known that they had eaten for they were still thin same-as-always. Then I woke up.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But afterwards, no one would have known that the thin cows ate them, because they were just as ugly as they were before. Then I woke up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 41:21

The picture of the thin cows given here is not in the first telling in Gen 41.4.

That they had eaten them: that is, “that the thin cows had eaten the fat ones.”

No one would have known that …: that is, “you could see no difference” or “by looking you could not tell that….”

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 .