brothers

“Brothers” has to be translated into Naro as “younger brothers and older brothers” (Tsáá qõea xu hẽé / naka tsáá kíí). All brothers are included this way, also because of the kind of plural that has been used. (Source: Gerrit van Steenbergen)

This also must be more clearly defined in Yucateco as older or younger (suku’un or Iits’in), but here there are both older and younger brothers. Yucateco does have a more general word for close relative, family member. (Source: Robert Bascom)

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 .

brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Genesis 42:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 42:8:

  • Kankanaey: “because guess-what they did not recognize him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even though Joseph recognized them, they were not able to recognize him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jose saw them, he recognized them right-away, but they on-the-other-hand did- not -recognize him. He just did- not -let- himself -to-be-noticed that he (was) Jose. He spoke harshly to them. He asked, ‘Where- (are) you (pl.) -from.’ They replied, ‘We (excl.) (are) from-Canaan, and we (excl.) came here in-order to-buy food.’ Jose then remembered his dream about them which brought-about- their -being-angry (with him). He said, ‘You (pl.) (are) spies! You (pl.) came here in-order to-see which portion/part of our (excl.) nation (is) weak in defense.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 42:8

In verse 7 nothing is said about the brothers recognizing Joseph. However, it is made clear in this verse that they do not know him. Note that Good News Translation begins verse 8 with a concession: “Although Joseph recognized…, they did not recognize him.” This may serve translators as a good model.

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 .