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.

complete verse (Genesis 5:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 5:21:

  • Kankanaey: “When Enok’s years were 65, Metusela was-born.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When Enoch was 65 years old, his son called Methuselah was born.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Enoc was already 65 years of age, his male child Metusela was-born.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 5:21 - 5:24

The report of Enoch.

Unlike each of the earlier reports, which say “X lived after the birth of Y,” verse 22 says Enoch walked with God …. The only other place where this same expression occurs is Gen 6.9 in regard to Noah, who was said to be “a righteous man, blameless in his generation” (Revised Standard Version). The expression occurs in Gen 17.1 but with a different preposition. The most accepted sense is “to live in close relationship with,” and this thought is well expressed by Good News Translation, “Enoch lived in fellowship with God.” Bible en français courant has “Enoch lived … in communion with God,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “Enoch lived in close union with God.”

The versions quoted above are all good translation models. Some translators, however, may want to use expressions that are idiomatic for walked with God. For example, some existing translations have “Enoch and God were good friends all the time.”

Enoch walked with God is repeated in identical words in verse 24; however, most modern translations vary the wording slightly for stylistic reasons. See Good News Translation.

And he was not is an expression used in reference to the sudden or unexplained disappearance or absence of someone. See Gen 42.13; 1 Kgs 20.40; Psa 103.16. Good News Translation has “and then he disappeared,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “One day he disappeared.” This will often be expressed as “They [people] didn’t see him any more.”

For God took him is believed by some scholars to be a late addition. However, translators should translate it. For translates a Hebrew particle introducing a clause of reason. Took translates the general verb used in 2.15, “God took the man and put him in the garden.” The word is used in a great variety of contexts, but here it has the sense of “take away, remove.”

Translators should avoid terms that suggest violent action such as “seize,” “grasp,” “snatch.” In some languages it is necessary to say where Enoch was taken. If that is the case, it will be best to say something similar to Bible en français courant: “God took him [Enoch] to himself.” We may also say “God took Enoch to be with him.” One recent translation says “God took him out of the world while he was still alive.” Many modern versions give footnote references to Heb 11.5 and Jude 14.

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 .