Genesis 11:6
11:6 And the Lord said, “If as one people all sharing a common language 1 they have begun to do this, then 2 nothing they plan to do will be beyond them. 3
Genesis 14:23-24
14:23 that I will take nothing 4 belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal. That way you can never say, ‘It is I 5 who made Abram rich.’
14:24 I will take nothing 6 except compensation for what the young men have eaten. 7 As for the share of the men who went with me – Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre – let them take their share.”
Genesis 39:9
39:9 There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how could I do 8 such a great evil and sin against God?”
1 tn Heb “and one lip to all of them.”
2 tn Heb “and now.” The foundational clause beginning with הֵן (hen) expresses the condition, and the second clause the result. It could be rendered “If this…then now.”
3 tn Heb “all that they purpose to do will not be withheld from them.”
4 tn The oath formula is elliptical, reading simply: “…if I take.” It is as if Abram says, “[May the Lord deal with me] if I take,” meaning, “I will surely not take.” The positive oath would add the negative adverb and be the reverse: “[God will deal with me] if I do not take,” meaning, “I certainly will.”
5 tn The Hebrew text adds the independent pronoun (“I”) to the verb form for emphasis.
6 tn The words “I will take nothing” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Heb “except only what the young men have eaten.”
8 tn The nuance of potential imperfect fits this context.