Genesis 13:6

13:6 But the land could ¹  not support them while they were living side by side. ²  Because their possessions were so great, they were not able to live ³  alongside one another.

Genesis 13:16

13:16 And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted. ⁴ 

Genesis 15:5

15:5 The Lord ⁵  took him outside and said, “Gaze into the sky and count the stars – if you are able to count them!” Then he said to him, “So will your descendants be.”

Genesis 19:19

19:19 Your ⁶  servant has found favor with you, ⁷  and you have shown me great ⁸  kindness ⁹  by sparing ¹⁰  my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because ¹¹  this disaster will overtake ¹²  me and I’ll die. ¹³ 

Genesis 45:1

The Reconciliation of the Brothers

45:1 Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, ¹⁴  so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained ¹⁵  with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

Genesis 48:10

48:10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing ¹⁶  because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph ¹⁷  brought his sons ¹⁸  near to him, and his father ¹⁹  kissed them and embraced them.

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¹ tn The potential nuance for the perfect tense is necessary here, and supported by the parallel clause that actually uses “to be able.”

² tn The infinitive construct לָשֶׁבֶת (lashevet, from יָשַׁב, yashav) explains what it was that the land could not support: “the land could not support them to live side by side.” See further J. C. de Moor, “Lexical Remarks Concerning Yahad and Yahdaw,” VT 7 (1957): 350-55.

³ tn The same infinitive occurs here, serving as the object of the verb.

⁴ tn The translation “can be counted” (potential imperfect) is suggested by the use of יוּכַל (yukhal, “is able”) in the preceding clause.

⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶ tn The second person pronominal suffixes are singular in this verse (note “your eyes,” “you have made great,” and “you have acted”). Verse 18a seems to indicate that Lot is addressing the angels, but the use of the singular and the appearance of the divine title “Lord” (אֲדֹנָי, ’adonay) in v. 18b suggests he is speaking to God.

⁷ tn Heb “in your eyes.”

⁸ tn Heb “you made great your kindness.”

⁹ sn The Hebrew word חֶסֶד (khesed) can refer to “faithful love” or to “kindness,” depending on the context. The precise nuance here is uncertain.

¹⁰ tn The infinitive construct explains how God has shown Lot kindness.

¹¹ tn Heb “lest.”

¹² tn The Hebrew verb דָּבַק (davaq) normally means “to stick to, to cleave, to join.” Lot is afraid he cannot outrun the coming calamity.

¹³ tn The perfect verb form with vav consecutive carries the nuance of the imperfect verbal form before it.

¹⁴ tn Heb “all the ones standing beside him.”

¹⁵ tn Heb “stood.”

¹⁶ tn Heb “heavy.”

sn The disjunctive clause provides supplemental information that is important to the story. The weakness of Israel’s sight is one of several connections between this chapter and Gen 27. Here there are two sons, and it appears that the younger is being blessed over the older by a blind old man. While it was by Jacob’s deception in chap. 27, here it is with Jacob’s full knowledge.

¹⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁸ tn Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s sons) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹⁹ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.