complete verse (Genesis 44:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:10:

  • Kankanaey: “Then slave then said, ‘All-right then, but it’s-OK-if only the one-who-stole is-enslaved to me. The others by-contrast, they can be-free.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He said — ‘Good! It will be just as you said. But whoever has it, only he will be my servant, all the others can go.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The steward said, ‘Okay, if the cup will-be-found among one of you (pl.) he will-become my slave, and the rest of you (pl.) have- no -responsibility.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The man replied, ‘Okay, I will do what you say. But the one who has the cup will not be executed. Instead, he will become my slave, and the rest of you may return home.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:10

The steward appears to be willing to settle for less than the brothers offer. He most probably assumes that Joseph is only interested in keeping Benjamin, and that it was for that reason that he had the cup put in Benjamin’s sack.

Let it be as you say: this appears to mean that the conditions offered by the brothers, namely, that all but the culprit will become slaves, are acceptable to the steward. However, what the steward accepts is that the guilty one be made a slave, not put to death. Accordingly we may translate “All right, I accept.”

He with whom it is found shall be my slave: since this statement contrasts with the proposal made by the brothers, it may be necessary to introduce it with a word or expression that marks a contrast; for example, “However,” “But,” or “Except.”

The rest of you shall be blameless: that is, “The rest of you will not be guilty,” “… will be judged as innocent.”

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 .