Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Genesis 45:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:2:

  • Kankanaey: “Then Jose wept-loudly and the ones-from-Egipto that were in the house heard-it, and then they reported it in the house of the king.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he wept with loud cries. The Egyptians staying there also heard him weeping, and the house of Pharaoh also learned of this matter.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jose cried intensely, so the [plural] Egiptohanon heard this, and it (was) heard in the palace of the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He cried so loudly that the people of Egypt who were outside heard it, and even the people in the king’s palace heard it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:2

And he wept aloud is literally “He gave his voice in weeping.” Now that Joseph is alone with his brothers, his emotions burst out in sobs. We may translate, for example, “He cried so loudly the Egyptians heard it.”

The expression so that the Egyptians heard it is literally “and Egypt heard.” If “Egypt” refers to the Egyptians Joseph has just sent out of the room, then we may translate, for example, “He cried so loudly that the Egyptians outside the room heard him.” See Good News Translation. However, modern versions understand this sentence in three ways:

(1) that the Egyptians (not identified, but presumably those outside the room) heard his sobs;
(2) that the Egyptians (not identified, but probably Egyptians in general) found out about it; and
(3) that all Egyptians heard about it (the Septuagint actually includes the word “all”).

Before making a recommendation about this, we must look at the next expression, in which the same Hebrew verb is used.

And the household of Pharaoh heard it: Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version give the impression that the noise of Joseph’s weeping was so loud that people in the king’s palace heard the sounds. However, it is highly unlikely that this is what the narrator means. Many modern versions express the idea that the news of Joseph’s crying reached the palace. For example, Revised English Bible says “And news of it got to Pharaoh’s household.” See Good News Translation. New International Version makes clear that the Pharaoh’s hearing is indirect: “and Pharaoh’s household heard about it”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “and soon the whole of Pharaoh’s court knew about it.” A number of translations that follow interpretation (1) for the previous clause make a direct link between the two clauses: “the Egyptians outside heard, and they went and told the news to the people of the king’s household.”

Referring back to the clause the Egyptians heard it, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends translating “and Egypt heard” rather than “and [the] Egyptians heard,” which indicates a preference for interpretation (3), or possibly interpretation (2) above. Also in favor of this approach is the fact that the verb is given the same sense (“heard the news of”) in the two clauses; a possible translation is “… so that all Egypt heard about it, and the news reached the household of the king.” However, most modern versions that are not ambiguous follow interpretation (1). This seems to be the most natural and likely meaning in the context of the overall story line, and is the interpretation that the Handbook recommends to translators.

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 .