Genesis 19:2

19:2 He said, “Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house. Stay the night ¹  and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning.” ²  “No,” they replied, “we’ll spend the night in the town square.” ³ 

Genesis 23:6

23:6 “Listen, sir, ⁴  you are a mighty prince ⁵  among us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you ⁶  from burying your dead.”

Genesis 24:14

24:14 I will say to a young woman, ‘Please lower your jar so I may drink.’ May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’ ⁷  In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master.” ⁸ 

Genesis 24:49

24:49 Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.” ⁹ 

Genesis 31:35

31:35 Rachel ¹⁰  said to her father, “Don’t be angry, ¹¹  my lord. I cannot stand up ¹²  in your presence because I am having my period.” ¹³  So he searched thoroughly, ¹⁴  but did not find the idols.

Genesis 42:33

42:33 “Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain ¹⁵  for your hungry households and go.

[19:2]  ¹ tn The imperatives have the force of invitation.

[19:2]  ² tn These two verbs form a verbal hendiadys: “you can rise up early and go” means “you can go early.”

[19:2]  ³ sn The town square refers to the wide street area at the gate complex of the city.

[23:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “Hear us, my lord.”

[23:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “prince of God.” The divine name may be used here as a means of expressing the superlative, “mighty prince.” The word for “prince” probably means “tribal chief” here. See M. H. Gottstein, “Nasi’ ‘elohim (Gen 23:6),” VT 3 (1953) 298-99; and D. W. Thomas, “Consideration of Some Unusual Ways of Expressing the Superlative in Hebrew,” VT 3 (1953) 215-16.

[23:6]  ⁶ tn The phrase “to prevent you” has been added in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[24:14]  ⁷ sn I will also give your camels water. It would be an enormous test for a young woman to water ten camels. The idea is that such a woman would not only be industrious but hospitable and generous.

[24:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “And let the young woman to whom I say, ‘Lower your jar that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink and I will also give your camels water,’ – her you have appointed for your servant, for Isaac, and by it I will know that you have acted in faithfulness with my master.”

[24:49]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and I will turn to the right or to the left.” The expression apparently means that Abraham’s servant will know where he should go if there is no further business here.

[31:35]  ¹³ tn Heb “she”; the referent (Rachel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[31:35]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “let it not be hot in the eyes of my lord.” This idiom refers to anger, in this case as a result of Rachel’s failure to stand in the presence of her father as a sign of respect.

[31:35]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “I am unable to rise.”

[31:35]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “the way of women is to me.” This idiom refers to a woman’s menstrual period.

[31:35]  ¹⁷ tn The word “thoroughly” is not in the Hebrew text, but is implied.

[42:33]  ¹⁶ tn The word “grain” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.