The name that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language with the signs signifying “hairy forearm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm, Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Esau” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 33:15:
Newari: “Esau said — ‘If so I will leave my men with you.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Esau said, ‘If that is-the-case, I will- now just -leave some of my men with you (sing.).’ Jacob replied, ‘(There-is) not now a need. What (is) important (is that) you (sing.) have-accepted me.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Esau said, ‘Then allow me to leave with you some of the men who came with me, to protect you.’ But Jacob replied, ‘Why do that?/There is no need to do that! The only thing that I want is for you to act friendly toward me.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by using the formal title –sama. This is distinct from nominal titles such as “master.” This is evident from the forms such as go-shujin-sama (ご主人様) “master” or “lord” which is the combination of the nominal title shujin “master” with the honorific prefix go- and the suffix title –sama.
In some cases, it can also be used as go-shujin (ご主人), i.e. with the honorific prefix go- but without the suffix title –sama. You can find that in Genesis 23:6, 23:11, 23:15, 24:51, 39:8, 39:9, 44:8, 44:9; 1 Samuel 25:17; and 2 Kings 2:16 and 4:26.
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, a god, or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-kōi (ご好意), a combination of “favor” (kōi) and the honorific prefix go-.
Let me leave … some of the men: Esau makes another proposal. This time he offers to leave some of his four hundred men to protect Jacob on the way. There is no reason to think Esau wants to leave these men to spy on Jacob. His attitude and character have given no indication of suspicion or revenge. It may be desirable to express Esau’s motive in translation, if readers are likely to misunderstand; for example, “some of my workers to stay with you and escort you” or “I’ll leave some of my workers with you to help you.”
What need is there?: Jacob’s reply in Hebrew is “Why that?” It is a rejection that we may render in English as “What for?” It is expressed in some translations as “No. Don’t bother.”
Let me find favor in the sight of my lord: Jacob now appeals to Esau by using the same expression as in Gen 33.8. There he said he wanted to gain Esau’s favor so that Esau would accept him. But here that sense does not fit the context. Anchor Bible translates “Please indulge [allow] me, my lord.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “Oh please don’t! Why should you bother?” and Revised English Bible “There is no reason why my lord should be so kind.” We may also translate, for example, “Thank you, sir, but that is not necessary” or “Big man, you are very good to me; but don’t!”
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.