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Essential Lessons in Translating Genesis 2-3: Key Insights for Hebrew Bible Scholars

This guide explores effective translation techniques for Genesis 2-3 of the Hebrew Bible. Emphasizing the importance of context, grammar, and the nuances of Hebrew verbs and pronouns, it underscores practical lessons such as avoiding terms like "now" unless absolutely necessary, using conjunctions correctly, and the significance of disjunctive phrases. Readers will learn to read aloud their translations to grasp deeper meanings and implications. This resource is invaluable for translators aiming for fidelity to the original texts.

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Essential Lessons in Translating Genesis 2-3: Key Insights for Hebrew Bible Scholars

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  1. FINDING YOUR WAY In Translating the Hebrew Bible

  2. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 • When in doubt, translate! (Exception:t")) Think what your translation means—what it implies. Read it aloud—listen to it carefully!

  3. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 • Do not use “now” unless Hebrew is hfTa(! • Do not use “And … And … And … and …”! • Disjunctive: “but,” “however” • Wayyiqtol: “then,” “so,” “thus,” “therefore” • Stative verbs (especially hfyfh): • Imperfect: “become,” “came to be,” “happened” • Perfect: “was,” “is,” “shall be”

  4. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 • Use para-graphed (¶ , cf. ¶ ) conver-sation:

  5. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 • Do not translate across the conjunction w or accents. See 3:6, 7 -- ;l×ak)ïYáw xÛaQiTáw HÙfMi( HÖf$yi):l-{aG }Ó"TiTáw … 3.6 {ÙiMury×"( yÛiK Uê(:dØ"Yáw {êehy¢n:$ yØ"ny"( ühæn:xóaqfPiTáw 3.7;t×orogAx {Ùehfl UÛ&A(áYáw hêfn"):t hØ"lA( üUr:P:téY×aw {Õ"h 3:9 hfK×eYa)=!+y")=“Where are you?”

  6. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 “from it” =UNÕeMim 3.11, 17“you (ms) shall eat it” =hæNêelAk)×oT3.17 • Pay attention to pronominal suffixes -- Pay attention to verb gender & number: “it (3fs) shall sprout” =×axyØim:caT3.18

  7. Lessons from Genesis 2-3 • Pay attention to emphatic personal pronouns: yÛiL-hæn:t×fn )wÖih3.12 b×"qf( UNÛepU$:T hÙfTa)ºw $)êor Ø!:pU$ºy )Uhù 3.15 ;|×fB-lf$:méy )UÙhºw 3.16 ;y×fx-lfK {Û") hÙftºy×fh )wÛih yÖiK 3.20

  8. Genesis 3:16 |ê"nor×"hºw |Ø"nOb:Ci( üheB:ra) hÜfB:rah • Pay attention to the grammar & sense -- “I will greatly multiply your pain and your conception;” {yÕinfb yØid:l×"T becÙe(:B “in pain you will bear children.”

  9. LESSONS FROM JONAH 1 • Do not translate )fnas “we beseech,” “I pray,” or “please.” [“Please” is only to be employed when it is exceedingly clear that it was intended as such.] Do not translate introductory imperatives.

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