Opening each word is like lifting the lid on a treasure chest. So it's no wonder my translations run long.
Plus, what weaning and ripe fruit have to do with it, my latest translation, and why Sarah was nursing so many babies.
Welcome back to The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined where this week I continue to walk a tightrope of translation … one verse at a time. (To see where this journey began, check out this post.)
When we left off last time, in Gen. 21:1-7 after Sarah gives birth to Isaac, I thought that this week I’d be ready to move into the consequential next verses of the story, when Sarah makes the controversial decision to send Hagar and Ishmael into the desert wilderness.
But then I realized I would be skipping past another consequential verse (Gen. 21:8), which is a seemingly prosaic single sentence about Isaac being weaned. Pausing on that verse now, which is actually rich in historic significance and poetic possibility, also gives me an opportunity to answer a question that I am frequently asked:
“Why are your translations so much longer than the ones in the Bibles on my bookshelf?”
That’s a good question that I can answer by focusing on that single verse this week (after which we will dive into the fray with Sarah and Hagar in the next installment).
I admit it: As Isaac grows, so does the length of my translation! In this week’s verse:
The 11 Hebrew words in Genesis 21:8...
Double to 20 words in the King James version ...
And nearly quintuple in my 54-word version of the verse ...
Why the word inflation?
You’ll understand more when you read the translation notes below. So, keep reading, and listen to the audio recording of my poetic and slightly expanded version. I’ll also share a revelation about why Sarah was said to be nursing not just her one son — but a plurality of babies!
But first …
With so much going on in this season of celebration, friendship, and family, I don’t want you to miss this opportunity to connect with your dreams and stories in the New Year:
Starting soon:
Join me for this dream-writing immersion using guided meditations, writing prompts, and dream incubation to tap into the midnight mind. Uncover unexpected wisdom, significance, and fresh outlooks from the perspective of ancient Jewish texts. (Online. Hosted by Ritualwell.) Get the details and register here.
Why do I put these translations behind a paywall? Because I hope one day to publish this work, and if I share it now with all 2,000+ of you, my cherished subscribers, it will be considered ‘previously published’ and will thus have a harder time finding its way into the wider world. PLUS: What I’m doing here is difficult, time consuming (and joyful!) work. So by subscribing you help to support this project.
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