complete verse (Genesis 34:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:29:

  • Newari: “They captured all their wealth, children, women and all that was in [their] houses.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They took all the wealth of the city, including the things inside the houses. And they took-as-captive all the women and children.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They took away everything that was valuable, even the children and the women. They seized and took away everything that was in the houses.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:29

All their wealth: it may be necessary to employ a verb and make wealth its object; for example, “They carried off all their wealth.” Wealth translates a different noun here than that used in 31.1, but the sense is the same as there.

Little ones refers to small children generally and includes both males and females, in spite of the statement that all the males were killed. Note in Good News Translation that English style prefers to place women before children.

All that was in the houses: that is, “they looted everything that was in their houses.” This statement repeats in other words the meaning of “plundered the city” in verse 27 and emphasizes the extent of the looting.

They captured and made their prey: captured renders the verb form of the noun “captives” used in 31.26, where Laban accused Jacob of “carrying away his daughters like captives.” Here Jacob’s sons carry off the wives and children as prisoners captured in war. Made their prey translates a verb meaning to plunder, which is to take by force. In translation it may be possible to use a verb for “capture” in relation to the wives and children, and an equivalent for “loot” for the plunder of the wealth and things taken from the houses. For example, “Jacob’s sons looted all their wealth and everything that was in their houses. They carried away as prisoners their wives and small children.”

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 .