complete verse (Genesis 45:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 45:10:

  • Kankanaey: “you and your (sing.) children and your (sing.) grandchildren, along with your sheep, goats, cows and other possessions. You (pl.) can stay in the region of Gosen which is near to my location” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Together with your children and grandchildren bring all [your] cattle and goods, and live close to me in Goshen.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You tell him also-that he can stay in the land of Goshen with his children and grandchildren, animals, and all his possessions, so-that he is-near to me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You can live in the Goshen region. You and your children and your grandchildren, your sheep and goats and cattle, and everything that you own, will be near me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

addressing one's or someone else's father respectfully in Japanese (父上)

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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 important aspect of addressing someone else in one’s or someone else’s family is by selecting the correct word when referring to them. One way to do this is through the usage of an appropriate title within a conversation as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

When the speaker humbly refers to his or her father in the presence of respected interlocutor(s), chichi (父) is often used (see addressing one’s father humbly / respectfully in Japanese (父)).

In some conversations, archaic honorific forms for “father” are chosen that also contain chichi (父) and typically indicate a greater level of respect. That includes chichi-ue (父上). An interesting contrast between the use of of chichi and chichi-ue can be found when there is a reference to “my father and your father.” The former is addressed with chichi and the latter with chichi-ue (for more see 1 Kings 15:19, 1 Kings 20:34, and 2 Chronicles 16:3 along with addressing one’s father humbly / respectfully in Japanese (父)). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Japanese benefactives (chikaku ni ite)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, chikaku ni ite (近くにいて) or “be near” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 45:10

You shall dwell in the land of Goshen: you is singular and addressed to Jacob. According to scholars the land of Goshen is called by that name only in the Bible. The most probable location is a fertile area in the eastern part of the Nile delta that today is called Wadi Tumilat. See the map on page 18. The area was particularly well suited for grazing or pasturing animals, a way of life that Egyptians did not follow. In translation land of … does not indicate a separate country; it refers here to a region or district within Egypt.

You shall be near me: that is, near compared with far-away Canaan.

You and your children and your children’s children …: here Joseph expands what he means by you (singular). Translators may find it best to start a new sentence with this expansion; for example, “This includes you [Jacob], your children, and your grandchildren [the children of Jacob’s married sons], and your flocks [which includes sheep and goats], your cattle, and all your belongings [these are moveable possessions].”

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 .