6:1 When humankind 1 began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born 2 to them, 3
16:3 So after Abram had lived 4 in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, 5 to her husband to be his wife. 6
18:20 So the Lord said, “The outcry against 7 Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant 8
22:19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set out together 12 for Beer Sheba where Abraham stayed. 13
“Our sister, may you become the mother 15 of thousands of ten thousands!
May your descendants possess the strongholds 16 of their enemies.”
29:21 Finally Jacob said 17 to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. 18 I want to have marital relations with her.” 19
49:3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might and the beginning of my strength,
outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.
1 tn The Hebrew text has the article prefixed to the noun. Here the article indicates the generic use of the word אָדָם (’adam): “humankind.”
2 tn This disjunctive clause (conjunction + subject + verb) is circumstantial to the initial temporal clause. It could be rendered, “with daughters being born to them.” For another example of such a disjunctive clause following the construction וַיְהִיכִּי (vayÿhiki, “and it came to pass when”), see 2 Sam 7:1.
3 tn The pronominal suffix is third masculine plural, indicating that the antecedent “humankind” is collective.
4 tn Heb “at the end of ten years, to live, Abram.” The prepositional phrase introduces the temporal clause, the infinitive construct serves as the verb, and the name “Abram” is the subject.
5 tn Heb “the Egyptian, her female servant.”
6 sn To be his wife. Hagar became a slave wife, not on equal standing with Sarai. However, if Hagar produced the heir, she would be the primary wife in the eyes of society. When this eventually happened, Hagar become insolent, prompting Sarai’s anger.
7 tn Heb “the outcry of Sodom,” which apparently refers to the outcry for divine justice from those (unidentified persons) who observe its sinful ways.
8 tn Heb “heavy.”
9 tn The Hebrew participle expresses an imminent action here.
10 tn Heb “for their outcry.” The words “about this place” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
11 tn Heb “the
12 tn Heb “and they arose and went together.”
13 tn Heb “and Abraham stayed in Beer Sheba. This has been translated as a relative clause for stylistic reasons.
14 tn Heb “and said to her.”
15 tn Heb “become thousands of ten thousands.”
sn May you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands. The blessing expresses their prayer that she produce children and start a family line that will greatly increase (cf. Gen 17:16).
16 tn Heb “gate,” which here stands for a walled city. In an ancient Near Eastern city the gate complex was the main area of defense (hence the translation “stronghold”). A similar phrase occurs in Gen 22:17.
17 tn Heb “and Jacob said.”
18 tn Heb “my days are fulfilled.”
19 tn Heb “and I will go in to her.” The verb is a cohortative; it may be subordinated to the preceding request, “that I may go in,” or it may be an independent clause expressing his desire. The verb “go in” in this context refers to sexual intercourse (i.e., the consummation of the marriage).
20 tn Heb “and they journeyed.”
21 tn Heb “and the fear of God was upon the cities which were round about them.” The expression “fear of God” apparently refers (1) to a fear of God (objective genitive; God is the object of their fear). (2) But it could mean “fear from God,” that is, fear which God placed in them (cf. NRSV “a terror from God”). Another option (3) is that the divine name is used as a superlative here, referring to “tremendous fear” (cf. NEB “were panic-stricken”; NASB “a great terror”).
22 tn Heb “interpreted.”
23 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Pharaoh) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
24 tn Heb “him”; the referent (the baker) has been specified in the translation for clarity.