29Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Other translations include:
Chichicapan Zapotec: “ox cart” (in Acts 8) (ox carts are common vehicles for travel) (source: Loren Bliese)
Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
HausaCommon Language Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 46:29:
Kankanaey: “Jose also, he caused-to-be-readied his horse-drawn-carriage so-that he would go meet his father. When they then saw-each-other, Jose immediately-hugged him and cried for-a-long-time.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Joseph prepared his chariot and came out to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as he met his father he embraced [him] for a long time, weeping.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jose rode in his chariot and went there to-meet his father. When they saw-each-other, Jose embraced his father and kept-on/continued his crying.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Joseph got his chariot ready and went to Goshen to meet his father. When Joseph arrived, he threw his arms around his father’s neck and cried a long time.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Joseph made ready his chariot: made ready translates the verb to “tie” or “bind,” and in this context it refers to harnessing or hitching horses to the chariot. It is actually Joseph’s servants who would harness the horse or horses to the chariot. Consequently it may be better to say, for example, “Joseph ordered his chariot,” “Joseph had his chariot brought to him,” or “Joseph told his servants to get his chariot ready.” For chariot see 41.43.
To meet Israel: that is, “Jacob.”
He presented himself to him: this expression is often used in the Old Testament referring to God appearing to someone. In this context it is not to be thought of as Joseph introducing himself to Jacob as a stranger might do. Joseph does not come to his father as the ruler of Egypt but as his long lost son. Bible en français courant gives a good model: “As soon as he was in his father’s presence, he….” Also good are Good News Translation, Revised English Bible: “When they met….”
And fell on his neck, and wept on his neck: see 45.14.
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 .
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