complete verse (Genesis 19:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 19:7:

  • Kankanaey: “Then he said to them, ‘Please take-pity, companions. Please do not do that-aforementioned bad-thing, because it’s excessive (particle of strong disapproval).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he said — ‘Friends, don’t do such a bad thing!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He said to them, ‘Friends, I am-asking you not to-do this what you (pl.) are-thinking which is bad.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He said to them, ‘My friends, don’t do such an evil thing!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (-naide)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, -naide (ないで) or “do not (for their sake)” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

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

Translation commentary on Genesis 19:7

I beg you, my brothers: I beg you is literally “Please do not.” My brothers is used as a friendly address form in which Lot seeks to establish solidarity with the men of Sodom. Lot is unrelated by kinship to these men, and so the word brothers is not to be taken literally. English, like many other languages, uses brothers in this extended sense. However, if readers are likely to understand that Lot is addressing his kinsmen, another form should be used. Good News Translation says “friends,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Bible en français courant “my friends.”

Do not act so wickedly: that is, “Don’t be so evil,” “Don’t do such a bad thing.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy is more concrete, with “Don’t do such a perverse thing.” Some translations say “Don’t commit such a crime.” Two examples of the way this verse may be expressed are “No, my friends. You don’t want to do any bad things to these strangers” and “Friends! This behavior is no good! Please don’t do this!”

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 .