prison

The Greek, Hebrew and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “prison” is translated in Dehu as moapokamo or “house for tying up people” (source: Maurice Leenhardt in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 97ff. ) and in Noongar as maya-maya dedinyang or “house shut” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also public prison.

complete verse (Genesis 42:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 42:17:

  • Kankanaey: “When it was-finished that he said that, he caused- them -to-be-imprisoned for three days.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joseph kept them all in prison for three days.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He had- them -put-in-prison for three days.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Joseph put them all in prison for three days.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 42:17

It is probably the case that Joseph is not yet ready to allow only one of the brothers to leave, because he knows their families are suffering from the famine, and one man cannot take enough food to save them. As verses 18-20 show, he therefore modifies his plan to test them. However, in the meanwhile he puts them all in prison.

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 .