full, plenty

The Hebrew that is translated as “plenty” in English is translated in Low German with the alliteration in Hüll un Füll or “enough and to spare (i.e. abundant)” (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1937, republ. 2006).

The same idiom is also used in Luke 6:25 for “full.”

See also in abundance.

complete verse (Genesis 41:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:29:

  • Kankanaey: “Because there will be in-the-future seven years in which the plants and trees in the entire country Egipto will have more-than-sufficiently much fruit (includes any crop).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “For seven years there will be very fruitful harvests everywhere in the land of Egypt.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Within-(the-period-of) seven years that will-come, the entire Egipto will-have very-great abundance.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “There will be seven years in which there will be plenty of food throughout the land of Egypt,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 41:29

Seven years of great plenty: plenty translates a word suggesting plenty of food, or more than enough food. In translation great plenty may need to be filled out to say, for example, “There will be seven years of good crops” or “… with plenty to eat.” Many languages have special terms or idioms that refer to “times of plenty,” or “good times.”

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 .