Genesis 41

Genesis 41 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 41:40 — יִשַּׁק (yishaq): chose "shall be ruled". Alternatives: "shall be fed"; "shall kiss" (as an act of obedience). Why: the verb in this idiom is disputed; the sense required is that the people act on Joseph's word. • Genesis 41:43 — אַבְרֵךְ (avrekh): chose "Avrekh!" (kept as the cry itself). Alternatives: "Bow the knee!"; "Make way!"; an Egyptian court title or acclamation. Why: the word's origin and meaning are uncertain, so the cry is kept rather than translated into a guess. • Genesis 41:45 — צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ (tsafenat paneach): chose "Zaphenath-Paneah". Alternatives: an Egyptian name explained in older tradition as "revealer of secrets"; other Egyptian derivations have been proposed. Why: it is a proper name of uncertain Egyptian derivation, so it is kept in its familiar form.