Genesis 18:3

18:3 He said, “My lord, ¹  if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. ² 

Genesis 24:25

24:25 We have plenty of straw and feed,” she added, ³  “and room for you ⁴  to spend the night.”

Genesis 34:9

34:9 Intermarry with us. ⁵  Let us marry your daughters, and take our daughters as wives for yourselves. ⁶ 

Genesis 37:16

37:16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Please tell ⁷  me where they are grazing their flocks.”

Genesis 44:7

44:7 They answered him, “Why does my lord say such things? ⁸  Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! ⁹ 

Genesis 47:31

47:31 Jacob ¹⁰  said, “Swear to me that you will do so.” ¹¹  So Joseph ¹²  gave him his word. ¹³  Then Israel bowed down ¹⁴  at the head of his bed. ¹⁵ 

Genesis 48:11

48:11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected ¹⁶  to see you ¹⁷  again, but now God has allowed me to see your children ¹⁸  too.”

[18:3]  ¹ tc The MT has the form אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Master”) which is reserved for God. This may reflect later scribal activity. The scribes, knowing it was the Lord, may have put the proper pointing with the word instead of the more common אֲדֹנִי (’adoni, “my master”).

[18:3]  ² tn Heb “do not pass by from upon your servant.”

[24:25]  ³ tn Heb “and she said, ‘We have plenty of both straw and feed.’” The order of the introductory clause has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[24:25]  ⁴ tn Heb The words “for you” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.

[34:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “form marriage alliances with us.”

[34:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.” In the translation the words “let…marry” and “as wives” are supplied for clarity.

[37:16]  ⁷ tn The imperative in this sentence has more of the nuance of a request than a command.

[44:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “Why does my lord speak according to these words?”

[44:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “according to this thing.”

[47:31]  ¹¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[47:31]  ¹² tn Heb “swear on oath to me.” The words “that you will do so” have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[47:31]  ¹³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[47:31]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “swore on oath to him.”

[47:31]  ¹⁵ sn The Hebrew verb normally means “bow down,” especially in worship or prayer. Here it might simply mean “bend low,” perhaps from weakness or approaching death. The narrative is ambiguous at this point and remains open to all these interpretations.

[47:31]  ¹⁶ tc The MT reads מִטָּה (mittah, “bed, couch”). The LXX reads the word as מַטֶּה (matteh, “staff, rod”) and interprets this to mean that Jacob bowed down in worship while leaning on the top of his staff. The LXX reading was used in turn by the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 11:21).

[48:11]  ¹³ tn On the meaning of the Hebrew verb פָּלַל (palal) here, see E. A. Speiser, “The Stem pll in Hebrew,” JBL 82 (1963): 301-6. Speiser argues that this verb means “to estimate” as in Exod 21:22.

[48:11]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “your face.”

[48:11]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “offspring.”