Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Exodus 3:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 3:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “So now Moses, go to the ruler of Egypt. Go and deliver/rescue my people of Israel to come out of that land.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So now, you go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites out of Egypt.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So I am-sending you (sing.) to the king of Egipto to cause- my people the Israelinhon -to-come-out from Egipto.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Therefore I will send you to go to the great chief of the Isip people to bring my people Israel so that they leave Isip and come.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “come! I will send you to king, in order you might go take away children of Israel out from Egypt.»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “So you go back to Egypt. I am sending you to the king, in order that he may permit you to bring my people, the Israeli people, out of Egypt.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Exod 3:10

Come is literally “Go,” along with the word “Now,” which Revised Standard Version does not reflect. New International Version has “So now, go.” But most translations interpret these two opening words as “Come now” (New English Bible), in the sense of the idiomatic English expression “Come on!” Since this is now Moses’ commission, I will send you may be understood as “I am sending you” (Good News Translation). It may also be expressed as “I will cause you to go.” Pharaoh is “the king of Egypt.”

That you may bring forth my people is a purpose clause based on the src Samaritan Pentateuchsrc* and the Greek Septuagint. The src Masoretic textsrc*, however, uses an imperative form of the verb that makes this a separate command. So New English Bible has “you shall bring my people,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “you shall free My people.” Translator’s Old Testament is even stronger: “You must lead my people” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Bible en français courant). My people, the sons of Israel should be understood as “my people, the Israelites,” or simply as “my people.” Sons of Israel usually means all the Israelites who were the descendants of Jacob, both male and female. Bring forth is simply “bring out,” in contrast with the verb used in verse 8.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .