complete verse (Genesis 45:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:19:

  • Kankanaey: “Tell them also to take-along horse-drawn-carriages (kalisa) from here so that that will be what- their spouses and children -ride-in so that when they arrive there, then they will call your plural father so that they will all come here.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Also tell them this — ‘Also take along large carts from here [in which] to bring your wives and children. Then also bring your father and come.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You also tell them to bring some carts from here in Egipto for their wives and children to-ride-on to transfer here. And they (should) really bring here their father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘lso tell this to your brothers: ‘Take some carts from Egypt to carry your children and your wives, and get them and your father and come back here quickly.” (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.

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:19

Command them also: the king says this to Joseph. As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, the Hebrew text has “you are commanded”; Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint and theVulgate. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates the Hebrew as a {B}, says the verb to command has a causative meaning, “to charge someone to give orders,” and is here used in a passive form that may be rendered “You have been charged to give orders,” that is, “do like this.” Whether the translator follows Revised Standard Version or the Hebrew text, the sense is essentially the same. Note Good News Translation “Tell them…,” which is a good model.

Do this: see verse 17.

Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives: the Hebrew word translated wagons refers to two- or four-wheeled carts pulled by work animals, usually oxen or donkeys. The “chariot” described in 41.43 is different, in that it was used in battle, had only two wheels, and was pulled by fast-moving horses. In areas where chariots and wagons are unknown, it may be difficult without illustrations for readers to understand the difference between these two vehicles. In some languages it may be necessary to use the same word as was used to translate “chariot” in 41.43, and render “wagon” as “big chariot,” or “big cart.” One language that uses the same word for both is French; Traduction oecuménique de la Bible, however, gives an explanation of the difference in its footnote.

It may not be clear why these wagons are said to be for your little ones and for your wives. This may be the case particularly in areas where a woman is expected to walk and carry her small child. In such cases we may need to say, for example, “… for your wives and small children to ride in.” For little ones see 43.8.

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 .