complete verse (Genesis 50:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 50:12:

  • Newari: “In this way his sons did as Jacob had said [to do]” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The children of Jacob obeyed his left-behind-(instructions) to them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Jacob’s sons did for him what their father had commanded.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 50:12

Verses 12-13 give a brief account of the burial of Jacob. Some interpreters understand these verses to follow directly from 49.33. Note that no mention is made of the Egyptians. Verse 12 summarizes the burial, and verse 13 gives some details.

Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them: both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate the Hebrew connective as a marker of a conclusion. In some languages a fuller expression may be used, like “In this way the sons of Jacob did….”

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 .