gentiles / nations

Click here to view graphically

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo (Dinė)) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).

Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), “other ethnic groups” (source: Newari Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

In Chichewa, it is translated with mitundu or “races.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

See also nations.

complete verse (Genesis 48:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 48:19:

  • Kankanaey: “But his father said, ‘Child, I know that the descendants of Manasses will also become in-the-future a large nation. But greater will be the honor of his younger-sibling and his descendants will become in-the-future stronger nations.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Without listening to his request, his father said — ‘I know, [my child], I know quite well. He, having many descendants, will also be be great. But his younger brother will be much greater than he, and his descendants will become groups of nations.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But his father answered, ‘Yes, I know-(it) son. The descendants of Manase will-become famous people too. But the descendants of Efraim will-become more famous and they will-become many groups of peoples.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But his father refused, saying, ‘I know that, my son, I know what I am doing. Manasseh’s descendants will also become a people-group, and they will become important. But his younger brother’s descendants will become greater than his will. His descendants will become several nations.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 48:19

But his father refused: that is, “refused to move his hand.”

I know … I know: the repetition of I know emphasizes Jacob’s certainty in what he has done. In some languages repetition of this kind will have the effect of casting doubt on what he has done; in this case some other appropriate expression of emphasis should be used. One translation has Jacob say “I know what I’m doing.”

He also shall become a people: he refers to Manasseh and may need to be expressed in that way. Become a people means his descendants will become a tribe or nation, which is further qualified as great or “important.”

Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he: this statement is introduced by a contrast. His younger brother refers to Ephraim, and it may be clearer to say, for example, “but Ephraim will be greater than Manasseh.”

His descendants … nations: descendants is literally “seed,” and multitude translates a word meaning “fullness,” or that which fills up a space, and therefore “a great number” or “many.” The term translated nations is the same as in 17.4-5.

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 .