The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “grain” (or: “corn”) is translated in Kui as “(unthreshed) rice.” Helen Evans (in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 40ff. ) explains: “Padddy [unthreshed rice] is the main crop of the country and rice the staple diet of the people, besides which [grain] is unknown and there is no word for it, and it seemed to us that paddy and rice in the mind of the Kui people stood for all that corn meant to the Jews.” “Paddy” is also the translation in Pa’o Karen (source: Gordon Luce in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 153f. ).
Other translations include: “wheat” (Teutila Cuicatec), “corn” (Lalana Chinantec), “things to eat” (Morelos Nahuatl), “grass corn” (wheat) (Chichimeca-Jonaz) (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “millet” (Lambya) (source: project-specific notes in Paratext), “food” (Nyamwezi) (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)or ntimumma lujia / “seeds for food” (Lokạạ — “since Lokạạ does not have specific terms for maize and rice that can be described as grains”) (source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:2:
Kankanaey: “Also join-in-placing-on-top my silver cup in the sack of the last/youngest.’ And he obeyed/fulfilled that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “In the sack of the youngest one, with his money [lit.: silver], put my silver cup.’ They did like Joseph said.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then put my silver cup in the sack of the youngest-one with the money that he paid for the food.’ The steward did what Jose told (him).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then put my silver cup in the top of the youngest brother’s sack, along with the silver that he paid for the grain.’ So the servant did what Joseph told him to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
My cup, the silver cup: cup translates a term that refers to a cup or bowl which is a drinking cup, probably without a handle. Silver makes the cup especially valuable. We may translate, for example, “my silver cup” or “my drinking bowl, the one made of silver.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “my cup, you know, the silver one.” In many areas people drink from gourds, wooden bowls, or clay bowls and not cups. However, silver is nearly universally known, and the idea of a drinking cup or bowl made of silver is not difficult to imagine.
In the mouth of the sack of the youngest: that is, “in the top of the grain sack of the youngest brother.”
With his money for the grain: that is, “along with the money he paid for the grain.” See Good News Translation.
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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