years (age)

In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).

Norm Mundhenk tells this story:

“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”

In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also advanced in years.

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 .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (Genesis 50:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 50:26:

  • Kankanaey: “When that was so, Jose died yearing one-hundred and ten. And they embalmed (binalsamo) his corpse and they buried-(him) in Egipto.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way Joseph died in Egypt after 110 years. Fragrant ointment was applied to his body and he was put in a box.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jose died at the age of 110 years. He was-embalmed and put into a coffin there in Egipto.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Joseph died in Egypt when he was 110 years old. His body was embalmed and put in a coffin there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 50:26

This final verse is the narrative closure of the whole section from chapter 37 to chapter 50.

So Joseph died: So or a word that marks a conclusion is appropriate here. Note that Good News Translation has moved in Egypt, which comes at the end of the verse in Hebrew and Revised Standard Version, to the opening sentence. This is because in Egypt should be taken with the whole verse and not just with put in a coffin.

A hundred and ten years: Joseph’s age is apparently important in the Egyptian setting (see verse 22) and serves as a frame for this unit.

They embalmed him: they refers to the Egyptian morticians. For embalmed see discussion of Gen 50.2.

Was put in a coffin: the verb is impersonal. A coffin is a box used for burial. For illustrations of Egyptian coffins used for mummies or bodies that were preserved, see a Bible dictionary. These coffins were often made out of stone.

According to Exo 13.19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when the people of Israel left Egypt.

If was put in a coffin suggests to the reader that Joseph’s body was left without burial, it may be necessary to complete the action. We may say, for example, “They put his body in a coffin for burial” or “He was put in a coffin so he could be buried.” Some versions attempt a translation of coffin that gives a more permanent status of the corpse. For example, Moffatt has “embalmed and put in a mummy case,” and Bible en français courant says “laid in a coffin of stone.”

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 .