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)

Joseph

The name that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English means “may God add,” “he shall add,” “increasing.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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)


“Joseph” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joseph .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

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 used by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Genesis 47:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 47:11:

  • Kankanaey: “And Jose gave his father and his siblings land of theirs in Rameses which was the best place in Egipto, because that’s what the king commanded.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Like Pharaoh said, Joseph settled [lit.: put] his father and brothers in the best and most beautiful place in all of Egypt, which was a place called Rameses.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “According-to the command of the king, Jose had- his father and siblings/(brothers) -settle in Egipto; he gave them the place of Rameses, one of the best land(s) in Egipto.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “That is how Joseph enabled his father and older brothers and younger brother to start living in Egypt. As the king had commanded, he gave them property in the best part of the land, in Goshen, which is now called Rameses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 47:11

In languages whose discourse requires careful marking of movements and new settings, or even summary statements like this, it may be necessary to move the end of this verse to the beginning by saying, for example, “After Joseph’s father and brothers had spoken with the king, Joseph did what the king had told him to do; he settled them….”

Settled: see verse 6.

Gave them a possession in the land of Egypt … land: that is, “he gave them land [property, fields, pastures] in the best part of the country.”

In the land of Rameses: interpreters understand this name to refer to Rameses II (that is, the second king of Egypt of that name); he was a Pharaoh who lived long after Joseph’s time. Land of Rameses is found in the Septuagint in 46.28, where the Hebrew text has “land of Goshen.” According to Exo 1.11 Rameses is one of two cities built by the Israelites living in Egypt. Most modern versions refer to this place as the “region [district, area] of Rameses.”

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 .