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)

complete verse (Genesis 45:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:24:

  • Kankanaey: “When everything was-prepared, Jose saw-off (lit. caused-to-depart) his siblings saying, ‘Really don’t you quarrel and blame-one-another on the trail.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way Joseph sent his brothers off from there. Before they went he said to them — ‘Don’t quarrel on the way.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When he had-sent-away his siblings/(brothers), he told them not to fight/quarrel on the road.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he sent his brothers on their way, saying to them ‘Do not quarrel along the way!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (-naide)

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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, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” 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 45:24

Then he sent his brothers away: that is, “he sent his brothers on their way,” or “sent his brothers off to Canaan.” See 44.3.

Do not quarrel on the way: quarrel translates a verb meaning to be “disturbed,” “upset,” “worried.” It has mainly to do with emotional states, not with quarrels and arguments. It is possible that Joseph is here warning the brothers not to be bothered by the fact that he gave Benjamin much more than he gave the others. However, it is more likely that he is repeating what he said to them in verse 5, namely, that they should not be upset over their treatment of him—which, as he has explained to them, God has turned into good for them. New Jerusalem Bible translates “Let there be no upsets on the way,” where “upsets” is defined in a footnote as “anxiety” or “recriminations.” We may also say, for example, “keep your hearts cool.”

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 .