Genesis 16:10

16:10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the Lord’s angel added, ¹  “so that they will be too numerous to count.” ² 

Genesis 27:12

27:12 My father may touch me! Then he’ll think I’m mocking him ³  and I’ll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.”

Genesis 27:23

27:23 He did not recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So Isaac blessed Jacob. ⁴ 

Genesis 42:20

42:20 But you must bring ⁵  your youngest brother to me. Then ⁶  your words will be verified ⁷  and you will not die.” They did as he said. ⁸ 

Genesis 44:28

44:28 The first disappeared ⁹  and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

¹ tn Heb “The Lord’s angel said, ‘I will greatly multiply your descendants….” The order of the clauses has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

² tn Heb “cannot be numbered because of abundance.”

³ tn Heb “Perhaps my father will feel me and I will be in his eyes like a mocker.” The Hebrew expression “I will be in his eyes like” means “I would appear to him as.”

⁵ tn Heb “and he blessed him.” The referents of the pronouns “he” (Isaac) and “him” (Jacob) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn The imperfect here has an injunctive force.

⁸ tn After the injunctive imperfect, this imperfect with vav indicates purpose or result.

⁹ tn The Niphal form of the verb has the sense of “to be faithful; to be sure; to be reliable.” Joseph will test his brothers to see if their words are true.

¹⁰ tn Heb “and they did so.”

⁹ tn Heb “went forth from me.”