Genesis 3:3

3:3 but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, ¹  or else you will die.’” ² 

Genesis 12:17

12:17 But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases ³  because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 26:29

26:29 so that ⁴  you will not do us any harm, just as we have not harmed ⁵  you, but have always treated you well ⁶  before sending you away ⁷  in peace. Now you are blessed by the Lord.” ⁸ 

Genesis 28:12

28:12 and had a dream. ⁹  He saw ¹⁰  a stairway ¹¹  erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it

Genesis 32:25

32:25 When the man ¹²  saw that he could not defeat Jacob, ¹³  he struck ¹⁴  the socket of his hip so the socket of Jacob’s hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him.

[3:3]  ¹ sn And you must not touch it. The woman adds to God’s prohibition, making it say more than God expressed. G. von Rad observes that it is as though she wanted to set a law for herself by means of this exaggeration (Genesis [OTL], 86).

[3:3]  ² tn The Hebrew construction is פֶּן (pen) with the imperfect tense, which conveys a negative purpose: “lest you die” = “in order that you not die.” By stating the warning in this way, the woman omits the emphatic infinitive used by God (“you shall surely die,” see 2:17).

[12:17]  ³ tn The cognate accusative adds emphasis to the verbal sentence: “he plagued with great plagues,” meaning the Lord inflicted numerous plagues, probably diseases (see Exod 15:26). The adjective “great” emphasizes that the plagues were severe and overwhelming.

[26:29]  ⁵ tn The oath formula is used: “if you do us harm” means “so that you will not do.”

[26:29]  ⁶ tn Heb “touched.”

[26:29]  ⁷ tn Heb “and just as we have done only good with you.”

[26:29]  ⁸ tn Heb “and we sent you away.”

[26:29]  ⁹ tn The Philistine leaders are making an observation, not pronouncing a blessing, so the translation reads “you are blessed” rather than “may you be blessed” (cf. NAB).

[28:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “and dreamed.”

[28:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “and look.” The scene which Jacob witnessed is described in three clauses introduced with הִנֵּה (hinneh). In this way the narrator invites the reader to witness the scene through Jacob’s eyes. J. P. Fokkelman points out that the particle goes with a lifted arm and an open mouth: “There, a ladder! Oh, angels! and look, the Lord himself” (Narrative Art in Genesis [SSN], 51-52).

[28:12]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew noun סֻלָּם (sullam, “ladder, stairway”) occurs only here in the OT, but there appears to be an Akkadian cognate simmiltu (with metathesis of the second and third consonants and a feminine ending) which has a specialized meaning of “stairway, ramp.” See H. R. Cohen, Biblical Hapax Legomena (SBLDS), 34. For further discussion see C. Houtman, “What Did Jacob See in His Dream at Bethel? Some Remarks on Genesis 28:10-22,” VT 27 (1977): 337-52; J. G. Griffiths, “The Celestial Ladder and the Gate of Heaven,” ExpTim 76 (1964/65): 229-30; and A. R. Millard, “The Celestial Ladder and the Gate of Heaven,” ExpTim 78 (1966/67): 86-87.

[32:25]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:25]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[32:25]  ¹¹ tn Or “injured”; traditionally “touched.” The Hebrew verb translated “struck” has the primary meanings “to touch; to reach; to strike.” It can, however, carry the connotation “to harm; to molest; to injure.” God’s “touch” cripples Jacob – it would be comparable to a devastating blow.