Language-specific Insights

complete verse (Genesis 24:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:14:

  • Kankanaey: “May it be that when I say to a young-lady, ‘Please lower that jar of yours (sing.) (rice-wine-jar but formerly also used for water) so-that I will drink,’ and she says, ‘Yes indeed, I will then also fetch-water-for your (sing.) camels,’ may it be that the one who says that, that will be the one you (sing.) have chosen whom Isaac will-marry. If that happens, that’s how-I-will-know that you (sing.) are doing what you (sing.) promised to Abraham my master,’ he said praying.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “I will say to one of them, ‘Let your pitcher down a bit to let me drink water.’ If she says to me, ‘Have a drink, I will also give water to your camels to drink’ I will recognize that that is the woman whom you have chosen for your servant Isaac. And I will also know that you have fulfilled the promise that I made to my master.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If in-fact/indeed I ask-for water from the jar of a young-single(unmarried)-lady, and she will-agree to cause- me -to-drink including my camels, may she (be) the woman whom you have-chosen to become the wife of your servant Isaac. In this (way) I will-know that you have-shown your goodness to my master Abraham.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I am asking you this: ‘I will say to some girl, ‘Please lower your jar so that I may drink some water.’ If she says, ‘Drink some, and I will draw some water from the well for your camels, too,’ I will know that she is the woman whom you chose to be a wife for your servant, Isaac, and I will know that you have been kind to my master.”” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:15:

  • Kankanaey: “His prayer was not yet finished and Rebeka arrived carrying-on-her-shoulder a jar that she was-using-to-fetch-water. This Rebeka, she was the child of Betuel who was the child of Milca and Nahor who was the sibling/cousin of Abraham.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Before he was finished praying, a beautiful woman who had not yet been married came bringing a pitcher to get water. That woman was Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham’s younger brother. Nahor’s wife was Milcah. Going before him, Rebekah went to the well. Then, having drawn water, [she] was about to go back.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He had- not yet -finished praying, Rebeka arrived carrying- a jar -on-her-shoulder. Rebeka (was) the child of Betuel, and Betuel (was) the child of Nahor and Milca. Nahor (was) the sibling of Abraham.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Before he finished praying, amazingly, Rebekah arrived there, carrying a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s younger brother Nahor.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:16:

  • Kankanaey: “She was a very-good-looking young-lady whom no one had yet touched. She went-downhill to the location of the spring and drew-water. When she then returned,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Before he was finished praying, a beautiful woman who had not yet been married came bringing a pitcher to get water. That woman was Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham’s younger brother. Nahor’s wife was Milcah. Going before him, Rebekah went to the well. Then, having drawn water, [she] was about to go back.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rebeka was a beautiful young-single-lady and still a virgin. She went-down to the well and she filled her jar with water. Then she came-up to go-home.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “She was very beautiful and still a virgin. She went down to the edge of the well, filled her jar with water, and then came back up.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:17:

  • Kankanaey: “Abraham’s slave hurried to go meet (her) and said, ‘I will please drink from-there (near hearer).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He ran quickly and said to her — ‘Please give me a little water to drink.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The servant hurried to-meet her and said, ‘Please let- me -drink from your jar even only a little.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Abraham’s servant immediately ran to meet her, and said, ‘Please give me a little water from your jar.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:18:

  • Kankanaey: “‘Yes indeed sir,’ she said. She quickly-lowered the jar from her shoulder so-that he had a way to drink.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then saying ‘Yes, Lord, have a drink.’ she gave him water to drink from the pitcher.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rebeka answered, ‘Okay/Sure sir, [you (sing.)] drink.’ She then lowered the jar and held (it) while the servant drank.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “She replied, ‘Drink some, sir!’ She lowered her jar from her shoulder to her hands and gave him a drink.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:19:

  • Kankanaey: “When he had drunk, Rebeka said, ‘I will also go and fetch-water-for your (sing.) camels so-that they will drink properly (i.e., their fill).'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then when he had drunk the water, that girl said — ‘I will also give water to your camels to drink.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After she had-given-a-drink to the servant, she said, ‘I will-draw-water also for your camels until they can-drink all.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will also get some water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:20:

  • Kankanaey: “She immediately-poured-out what was-remaining in the jar into the drinking-trough which was the place-for-drinking of the animals and ran-immediately to draw-water again. She did-it-repeatedly (lit. repeated-and-repeated) until all the camels had-been-watered (form of the verb to drink),” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “She quickly poured out all the water into the camel’s water drinking trough. And [she] brought water until they had had enough to drink.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “She quickly poured-out the water into the place-of-drinking for the animals and she returned to the well to-draw-water again. She continued to-draw-water until all the camels were-able-to-drink.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “She quickly emptied the water in her jar into the trough for giving water to animals, and then ran back to the well, and kept getting water for all the camels.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

complete verse (Genesis 24:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:21:

  • Kankanaey: “while that slave of Abraham remained-quiet/unmoving watching- her -closely so-that he would-come-to-know if it was true that God had directed him to the right one-whom- Isaac -was-to-marry.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In silence he watched all the Rebekah did to learn whether this girl was the one the LORD had chosen or not.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The servant just watched-closely/keeps-an-eye and he was-thinking/(wondering) if the LORD was- already -granting his purpose in going-to that place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The servant just watched her, without saying anything. He wanted to know if Yahweh had caused his trip to be successful or not.” (Source: Translation for Translators)