The episode in this chapter is a continuation of the story in chapter 41. The setting switches from Egypt to Canaan in the introduction in verses 1-5. Most translators will have no problem opening this chapter the same as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. An example of a transition that may be used if necessary is “At this time Jacob and his family were far away in Canaan, and when he heard the news….”

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt: learned is literally “saw” and has the sense of “found out” or “heard.” Some languages prefer a passive construction; for example, “When Jacob was told that….” The word for grain refers to grain that has been threshed and is a market produce. In Egypt this most likely refers to wheat.

Said to his sons may need to be rendered as “asked his sons,” if the words that follow are translated as a question that asks for information.

Why do you look at one another?: Revised Standard Version translates this question literally. The question is regarding the sons’ helplessness to do anything to get food. Jacob is chiding them for their failure to take initiative. See Good News Translation. In English we may say, for example, “Why do you stand around doing nothing?” or “Why do you stand around looking helplessly at each other?” But the question may also be taken as a rhetorical question and rendered as a negative command: “Don’t just stand around doing nothing!” “Don’t just look at each other!”

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 .