Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Genesis 23:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:2:

Kankanaey: “she died at Hebron in the region of Canaan, and Abraham mourned-for her.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “[she] died in a place in Canaan called Kiriath-arba (nowdays called Hebron). Abraham mourned her death.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “She died there at Kiriat Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourned greatly when Sarah died.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “she died at Kiriath-Arba town, which is now called Hebron, in the Canaan region. After Abraham mourned for her,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:3:

Newari: “He went to the Hittites and said –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now, Abraham left-alone for-a-while the corpse/dead-body of his wife and he went-to-go-see the Hithanon and said to them,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “he left the body of his wife and went and spoke to some of the descendants of Heth, saying,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:4:

Newari: “I have lived [here] having come from outside your place. I do not have a field to bury my wife. So please sell me one field.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “‘I have lived here in your place as a stranger, therefore if (it is) possible you (pl.) let- me -buy land where I can bury my wife.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “‘I am a foreigner living among you, so I do not own any land here. Sell me some land here so that I can bury my wife’s body.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:5:

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:6:

Newari: “‘You are a great man. Choose the best field to bury your wife. None of us will say it is not good.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “‘Sir, listen to us (excl.) first. We (excl.) acknowledge you (sing.) as an honorable man, therefore you can bury your wife any where among our (excl.) finest burial-places. No one among us (excl.) will-refuse to-give to you (sing.) a burial-place so-that you can-bury your wife.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “‘Sir, you are a powerful prince among us. Choose one of our finest tombs and bury your wife’s body in it. None of us will refuse to sell land to you for a tomb for your relatives’ bodies.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:7:

Newari: “Then standing before them, Abraham bent down and said –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “At once Abraham knelt-down in thanks/show-of-thanks before/[lit. in front of] the residents of the Hithanon.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then Abraham stood up and bowed in respect in front of the people who owned the land, the descendants of Heth.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:8:

Newari: “‘If it is true that I will be allowed to bury my wife here, [tell] Zohar son of Ephron [the verb ‘tell’ is in v. 9]” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then he said, ‘If you (pl.) indeed agree that I will-bury my wife here, you (pl.) should help me to speak to Efron the child of Zohar” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “He said to them, ‘If you say that you are willing for me to bury my wife’s body here, listen to me, and ask Ephron, the son of Zohar for me,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:9:

Newari: “to sell me the cave called Machpelah, along with his field. I will pay the money that it costs and you will all witness it.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “that he will-sell to me his cave which is beside his farm at Macpela. [You (pl.)] tell him that I will-pay him the right price right here in-front-of you (pl.) so-that that cave will- now -be-mine for-the-sake-of making a burial-place.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “to sell to me the cave in the Machpelah area, which is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price he wants, so that I can have a burial ground among you.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)