complete verse (Genesis 45:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:13:

  • Kankanaey: “Go then and tell our father of my status (lit. personhood) here in Egipto and of all that you have seen. Then hurry to accompany-him here.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Tell my father all that you have seen here and that I have become a great person in Egypt. Then bring him here quickly.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (pl.) tell my father about the honor that I have-come-to-possess here in Egipto and all that you (pl.) saw about me. And you (pl.) bring him here to me quickly.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Go and tell my father about how greatly I am honored here in Egypt. And tell him about everything else that you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

addressing one's or someone else's father respectfully in Japanese (父上)

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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 important aspect of addressing someone else in one’s or someone else’s family is by selecting the correct word when referring to them. One way to do this is through the usage of an appropriate title within a conversation as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

When the speaker humbly refers to his or her father in the presence of respected interlocutor(s), chichi (父) is often used (see addressing one’s father humbly / respectfully in Japanese (父)).

In some conversations, archaic honorific forms for “father” are chosen that also contain chichi (父) and typically indicate a greater level of respect. That includes chichi-ue (父上). An interesting contrast between the use of of chichi and chichi-ue can be found when there is a reference to “my father and your father.” The former is addressed with chichi and the latter with chichi-ue (for more see 1 Kings 15:19, 1 Kings 20:34, and 2 Chronicles 16:3 along with addressing one’s father humbly / respectfully in Japanese (父)). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kite (来て) or “come” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:13

You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt: Joseph is addressing all the brothers. Splendor translates a Hebrew word that was used for “wealth” in 31.1. In 34.19 the same word was used for the “honor” of Shechem and here also has the sense of glory, honor, or fame. New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to say “how greatly I am honored.” In some languages this idea is best expressed as “Tell my father how the people of Egypt praise me” or “… honor me.” Some modern translations interpret the word in this context to mean “authority”: “about my authority in this country.” Good News Translation has “how powerful I am”; other translations say “that I have a high rank” or “that I am very important.” All that you have seen, in the context of Joseph’s power and splendor, most likely refers to Joseph’s style of life and his commanding presence. We may translate this expression, for example, “and the things you have seen me do” or “the way of my life you have seen.”

Make haste repeats part of the opening of verse 9 and so encloses verses 9-13 with the same command.

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 .