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 47:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 47:24:

  • Kankanaey: “In harvest-season, you must give the fifth-part of your harvest. What is left, you may use it as your seed and as what your families will eat.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At harvest time one part in five of what grows in your fields must be brought and given to the king. Then, however, four parts you may keep for seed and for food for your families and children.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you will- indeed -harvest, [you (pl.)] give to the king the fifth portion of your harvest. And the rest will-be yours (pl.), so-that you (pl.) have something to-plant and your (pl.) entire household will-have food.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But when you harvest the crop, you must give one-fifth of the crop to the king. The rest of the crop you can keep, to be seed to plant in the fields, and to be food for you and your children and for everyone else in your household to eat.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 47:24

At the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh: that is, “When you [plural] harvest your crops, you must give one-fifth of your crops to the king.” At the harvests is also expressed as “When the food in your garden is ripe” or “When you grow any kind of food.” In some languages a fifth is expressed as taking one part from five parts; for example, “You must make five piles with your grain and take one pile and give it to the king.”

And four fifths shall be your own: following the model of divided piles: “and four piles will be for you,” or in such languages we may also say “and the rest is for you.”

As seed for the field: that is, “You must use some for planting your fields.”

And as food for yourselves and your households, and … little ones: that is, “and the rest you and your families can eat,” or more fully “the rest is for you [plural] to eat. It is for you and all those who live with you, including your small children.” For another model of the shorter version, see Good News Translation.

For your little ones is similar to verse 12.

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 .