brothers

“Brothers” has to be translated into Naro as “younger brothers and older brothers” (Tsáá qõea xu hẽé / naka tsáá kíí). All brothers are included this way, also because of the kind of plural that has been used. (Source: Gerrit van Steenbergen)

This also must be more clearly defined in Yucateco as older or younger (suku’un or Iits’in), but here there are both older and younger brothers. Yucateco does have a more general word for close relative, family member. (Source: Robert Bascom)

Joseph

The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Joseph” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joseph .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), both “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (Genesis 37:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:23:

  • Kankanaey: “When Jose then arrived at the location of his siblings, they suddenly-grabbed him and suddenly-removed his decorated garment.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as Joseph arrived at their place they seized him and removing the precious, wide upper garment that he was wearing, took it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So when- Jose -arrived, they stripped him of [that] his garment which (was) beautiful and long,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So when Joseph arrived where his older brothers were, they seized him and ripped off his pretty robe with long sleeves.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:23

All the conversation and scheming from verse 18 to 22 takes place after the brothers recognize Joseph in the distance and before he arrives where they are. Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew connective as So, to introduce a consequence. We may also translate the opening of verse 23 as a contrast with Reuben’s purposes in verse 22; for example, “But when Joseph came to where his brothers were, they stripped him….”

Stripped him of his robe: stripped in this context means they “tore off,” “pulled off,” “ripped off” his robe. The long robe with sleeves should be translated as in Gen 37.3.

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 .