Joseph

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)


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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joseph .

complete verse (Genesis 49:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 49:22:

  • Newari: “‘Joseph is like the child of a donkey sitting near a spring, like the child of a donkey sitting on a high plateau.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘You (sing.) Jose, you are-like a wild donkey beside the spring or beside the slope.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joseph, you will have many descendants. Their children will be as many as the fruit on a vine near a spring of water, whose branches extend over a wall.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 49:22

Joseph is Rachel’s first son.

Verses 22-26 are filled with praise for Joseph and are as warm in blessings as those for Judah in verses 8-12. Each of these verses contains serious textual problems.

Joseph is a fruitful bough: in this verse Joseph is praised for his numerous descendants and is compared to a fruitful spreading vine that sends out branches (see Deut 33.17, which speaks of the great numbers of offspring from Ephraim and Manasseh). New Revised Standard Version, unlike Revised Standard Version, has a footnote, “Hebrew uncertain.” Note that Good News Translation‘s rendering is entirely different, as it continues with animal metaphors similar to that in the previous verse.

The Hebrew text appears to say literally “son of a fruitful [vine] Joseph” and then a second time “son of a fruitful [vine].” Anchor Bible regards the use of fruitful (bough or vine) inaccurate. He objects to breaking with the animal metaphors in 9, 14, 17, 21, and 27. He observes that the first line in verse 22 is closely paralleled in Deut 33.17, where the ox and wild ox are used, and then proposes that the Hebrew expression rendered fruitful, which is literally “son of fruitful,” should be understood as “wild ass.” This is followed by Good News Translation and New American Bible and is given as an alternative translation by New International Version (footnote). Good News Translation gives the alternative translation (as in Revised Standard Version) in its footnote. (Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which does not consider the Anchor Bible argument, recommends a translation that is equivalent to that in Revised Standard Version.)

The Handbook recommends either the Revised Standard Version or the Good News Translation model. However, if the Good News Translation is followed, the alternative translation should be given in a footnote.

His branches run over the wall: branches is literally “daughters.” Anchor Bible finds the Hebrew of “daughters run” to be the same as the Arabic for “wild asses.” Over the wall he understands to refer to an elevated place, which Good News Translation renders as “hillside.”

The recommendation of the Handbook is the same here as for the first line.

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 .