17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, so he took his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
The Greek and Hebrew that is typically translated as “(to the) right hand of” is often translated much more descriptively in other languages. In Yakan it is translated as “at the right side, here in the greatest/most important/most honored place/seat,” in Mezquital Otomi as “the right hand, at the place of honor,” in Chuj as “exalted at the right hand,” in Chichimeca-Jonaz as “in a high place there at the right,” in Lalana Chinantec as “make great,” in Isthmus Mixe as “given great authority,” in Morelos Nahuatl as “placed big” or “heart-strengthens me,” in Isthmus Mixe as “stays with me,” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August, 1966, p. 86ff), and in Teutila Cuicatec as “in all authority at the right side” (source: Ronald D. Olson in Notes on Translation January, 1968, p. 15ff.).
In Lamnso’, the seat on the right-hand side signifies that the person seated there would have a higher position than the one to his left (vs. just being a seat of honor). To circumvent any misunderstanding of the biblical text, the translation here refers to the “highest seat next to God.” (Source: Karl Grebe in Holzhausen 1991, p. 52)
(Note that in Elhomwe the idiom “I see you through the left hand” stands for “useless.” [Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext])
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 and Greek that is transliterated as “Manasseh” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “bull” referring to Deuteronomy 33:17. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 48:17:
Kankanaey: “It was not good in Jose’s opinion his seeing his father placing his right hand on Efraim’s head, therefore he moved-it by placing on Manasses the hand of his father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “That his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head did not please Joseph. So he tried to move his father’s hand from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “When Jose saw that his father had-placed his right hand on the head of Efraim, he had-bad feelings/he was displeased. So he took-hold-of the hand of his father in-order to move-(it) to Manase,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head and not on Manasseh’s head, he was distressed/displeased. So he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verses 17-20 appear to be a continuation of verses 13-14. If this is so, it makes verses 15-16 appear to be a later insertion. Although the blessing has been spoken, the text as we now have it shows Joseph attempting to correct the blessing by putting Jacob’s right hand on Manasseh, the firstborn son. Translators may find it necessary to make an adjustment in the first clause of verse 17 by saying, for example, “Before Jacob began the blessing, Joseph had noticed that his father had laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim.”
When Joseph saw … it displeased him: the first part of this verse is made up of a reason followed by a result. The right hand side is the position of importance and is associated here with the greater blessing. It displeased him is literally “it was evil in his eyes.” This idiomatic expression was first used in 21.11, where Abraham reacted with displeasure at Sarah’s demand that Abraham get rid of Hagar and Ishmael.
Translators may find it best to switch the order of reason followed by result in the first part of this verse, so that Joseph’s action which follows links up directly with the reason clause. See Good News Translation for a model.
He took his father’s hand, to remove it: the picture here is of Joseph taking hold of Jacob’s hand, or as Anchor Bible says, “grasped his father’s hand.” Joseph attempts to remove Jacob’s right hand, which is resting on the head of Ephraim, and place it upon the head of Manasseh. However, he does not remove Jacob’s hand because Jacob resists. Translations express this situation in a number of ways; for example, “he grabbed his father’s hand to put his right hand on Manasseh’s head,” “he lifted his father’s hand to move it across from … to…,” “… so he took hold of his father’s right hand, and he wanted to put it on….”
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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