complete verse (Genesis 49:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 49:23:

  • Newari: “The enemy will shoot arrows at him, taking their bows and arrows they will chase him relentlessly.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The archers will-hold-a-grudge-(against) you. In their hostility/anger they will-shoot- you -with-a-bow,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Their enemies will attack them fiercely, and shoot at them with bows and arrows and pursue them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 49:23

The archers fiercely attacked him: verse 23 consists of a series of three verb phrases, each begun by the common Hebrew connective, and the series is followed by the one who does these actions; the actions are: (1) “showed him bitterness [hostility],” (2) “shot at him,” (3) “attacked” or “persecuted him.” Archers is literally “men of arrows.” It may need to be rendered more generally as “warriors” or “men with weapons,” or simply as “his enemies.” Him refers to Joseph. If the translator is using the second person, him will be rendered “you.” Revised Standard Version is a satisfactory model for translation.

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 .