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 41:53)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:53:

  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, what Jose prophesied came-true. When the seven years with good crops were finished, seven years of famine took-their-place. There was also famine in the other collective-countries, but in Egipto by-contrast, food was still in-excess.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Egypt’s seven years of very fruitful grain growing came to an end.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The seven years of abundance in Egipto were- now -finished,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Finally the seven years in which there was plenty of food ended.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 41:53 - 41:54

That prevailed … came to an end: that is, “The seven years of good crops came to an end.” We may also translate verse 53 as a “when” clause; for example, “When the seven years of good crops had come to an end, then the seven years of famine began, as Joseph had said they would.”

There was famine in all lands; but in … there was bread: that is, “There was famine in every country except in Egypt, where there was food.”

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 .