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)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 40:4:
Kankanaey: “Since these two were high officials, the captain appointed Jose to serve them. When they had been-a-slightly-long-time in the prison,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “The prison chief put them in Joseph’s care.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jose was the one entrusted by the captain of the guards to take-care-of them. They were-a-long-time there in the prison.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “The two men were in prison for a long time. And during that time the captain of the palace guards appointed Joseph to be their servant, to take care of their needs.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Charged Joseph with them: the captain of the guard is responsible for the two detained officials, but he “appointed [gave the job to] Joseph” to be with them and to serve them. Some commentators make the point that this brought Joseph down from being a supervisor of all the prisoners to being a slave of these two officials of the king. One translation that makes this clear says “he made Joseph the slave of those two, to care for them.” This episode reveals the continuing conflict in young Joseph’s life, and how God is preparing the way to a greater resolution of his situation through these adverse circumstances.
They continued for some time in custody is literally “They were many days in custody.” We may translate, for example, “They had to stay there for some time” or “The king made them stay in the jailer’s house for a long time.”
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 .
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