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Genesis: Translation and Commentary
Genesis begins with the making of heaven and earth and all life, and ends with the image of a mummy - Joseph's - in a coffin. In between come many of the primal stories in Western culture: Adam and Eve's expulsion from the garden of Eden, Cain's murder of Abel, Noah and the Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's binding of Isaac, the covenant of God and Abraham, Isaac's blessing of Jacob in place of Esau, the saga of Joseph and his brothers. These are stories we attend to throughout our lives, for their literary power and beauty, their emotional resonance, their philosophical weight, and their sacredness. They connect us with one another and with generations past and future. In Robert Alter's brilliant translation, these stories cohere in a powerful narrative of the tortuous relations between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, elder and younger brothers, God and his chosen people, the people of Israel and their neighbors. Alter's translation recovers the meanings, literary strategies, and eloquence of the ancient Hebrew and conveys them in striking literary English. The result is a Genesis with the continuity of theme and motif of a wholly conceived and fully realized book. Alter's translation is enhanced by his insightful, fully informed commentary, which illuminates the book in its many dimensions.
324 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 1996
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 2, 2019
This review was originally written in 2012 and posted to Amazon.
As different readers will have their own private reasons for searching out a book that deals with biblical commentary, it is probably best to state up front my own reasons - this way, readers looking for substantially different results than what I had hoped for can then choose to find reviewers who better fit their needs. In my case, I approached this translation and commentary purely from a secular standpoint; Genesis of course having had such and enormous influence on literature and culture that I thought a better grasp of the events and characters might help me to tease out parallels in more modern works.
I can't compare this version to any other recent translations - only to the parts of the King James' version I'd read before. For my goals, there may have been any number of translations with commentary that would have worked, but I had read of this particular one in an essay by Cynthia Ozick several years ago, and based on her favorable opinion, it was the one I chose. What I found was a very readable, densely notated, attractively formatted book that finally tied this entire narrative into a comprehensible whole for me. Too often before, I had faltered at the KJ translation, and though I had probably heard and read Genesis piecemeal a hundred times over the years, I was still unclear on several points.
I can confidently say that Mr. Alter's version swept aside any confusion I may have had, and, incidentally, revealed a fascinating, powerful story. In his introduction, Mr. Alter points out some of his philosophy behind translation, and the specific point I thought most interesting was his idea that many translations seek to interpret the text at the same time as translating it. So, instead of seeking out a term that most closely approximates the Hebrew, some may choose a similar word or phrase which will (perhaps) make the point clearer to the intended audience rather than a literal substitution. It was his stated intention to avoid this.
How well he succeeded is a question for others - I only know that I enjoyed the narrative much more than I expected. With the copious amount of notes that accompany the text, it would seem that the author certainly had the opportunity to render a literal translation and still leave himself plenty of room for further explication. On many pages, there are equal amount of text and accompanying notes. This could be a problem for some readers if they find it a distraction; I overcame the issue by first reading the text portion of a chapter straight through, then flipping back to read the notes. As each chapter is very short, this worked well for me. I might suggest that those interested in the book take a quick peek at the look inside feature that Amazon provides in order to get a sense of the layout.
For the most part, I felt that the commentary was pertinent, though there were some notes I thought extraneous and some elements of the text that I would have liked to know more about. But Mr. Alter's commentary is generally confined to either explanations of word choice or comments about cultural practices that are likely too obscure for modern readers. His points do not veer in the direction of theology, or exegesis, or to comparative reading between the Old and New Testament. In other words, regardless of its importance as a foundational text for major religions, the story here is treated more like a cultural document, which it is, among other things. This treatment, above all, made it exactly the type of translation I was looking for.
My only nitpick here is that the text of Genesis is also included in The Five Books of Moses. I can conceive of different reasons why some readers might want the first book only or together with the others - but had I been aware of the larger compilation, I would have purchased it instead.
As different readers will have their own private reasons for searching out a book that deals with biblical commentary, it is probably best to state up front my own reasons - this way, readers looking for substantially different results than what I had hoped for can then choose to find reviewers who better fit their needs. In my case, I approached this translation and commentary purely from a secular standpoint; Genesis of course having had such and enormous influence on literature and culture that I thought a better grasp of the events and characters might help me to tease out parallels in more modern works.
I can't compare this version to any other recent translations - only to the parts of the King James' version I'd read before. For my goals, there may have been any number of translations with commentary that would have worked, but I had read of this particular one in an essay by Cynthia Ozick several years ago, and based on her favorable opinion, it was the one I chose. What I found was a very readable, densely notated, attractively formatted book that finally tied this entire narrative into a comprehensible whole for me. Too often before, I had faltered at the KJ translation, and though I had probably heard and read Genesis piecemeal a hundred times over the years, I was still unclear on several points.
I can confidently say that Mr. Alter's version swept aside any confusion I may have had, and, incidentally, revealed a fascinating, powerful story. In his introduction, Mr. Alter points out some of his philosophy behind translation, and the specific point I thought most interesting was his idea that many translations seek to interpret the text at the same time as translating it. So, instead of seeking out a term that most closely approximates the Hebrew, some may choose a similar word or phrase which will (perhaps) make the point clearer to the intended audience rather than a literal substitution. It was his stated intention to avoid this.
How well he succeeded is a question for others - I only know that I enjoyed the narrative much more than I expected. With the copious amount of notes that accompany the text, it would seem that the author certainly had the opportunity to render a literal translation and still leave himself plenty of room for further explication. On many pages, there are equal amount of text and accompanying notes. This could be a problem for some readers if they find it a distraction; I overcame the issue by first reading the text portion of a chapter straight through, then flipping back to read the notes. As each chapter is very short, this worked well for me. I might suggest that those interested in the book take a quick peek at the look inside feature that Amazon provides in order to get a sense of the layout.
For the most part, I felt that the commentary was pertinent, though there were some notes I thought extraneous and some elements of the text that I would have liked to know more about. But Mr. Alter's commentary is generally confined to either explanations of word choice or comments about cultural practices that are likely too obscure for modern readers. His points do not veer in the direction of theology, or exegesis, or to comparative reading between the Old and New Testament. In other words, regardless of its importance as a foundational text for major religions, the story here is treated more like a cultural document, which it is, among other things. This treatment, above all, made it exactly the type of translation I was looking for.
My only nitpick here is that the text of Genesis is also included in The Five Books of Moses. I can conceive of different reasons why some readers might want the first book only or together with the others - but had I been aware of the larger compilation, I would have purchased it instead.
January 8, 2024
Genesis is weird... like really weird.
The morals and actions of the prophets and patriarchs are utterly alien to our modern world. Vows taken touching genitals, casual offerings of daughters for raping, incest, father playing favourites with a son who is a liar, cheater and general scumbag. It is insane!
Luckily for us, Robert Alter's commentary contextualises these actions and the stories themselves, informing us about the nomadic culture that passed these stories down to us. He lets us know the ancient origins of some of the myths totally outside of a biblical origin and explains how and why they found their way into the text.
Alter's translation is excellent. Through it you understand this really is a HEBREW document. He maintains the structure and rhythm of this unique form of storytelling and because of it, a lot of Genesis makes much more sense to me. He points out when Hebrew words and meanings have been lost or misunderstood in other translations, yet he is not chauvinistic and gives credit when due to famous Western translations like KJV.
I would recommend this book to those of a scholarly or historical bent who want to better understand the source text in a detached and rigorous manner.
Also Jacob is a massive, massive dick! Team Esau all the way.
The morals and actions of the prophets and patriarchs are utterly alien to our modern world. Vows taken touching genitals, casual offerings of daughters for raping, incest, father playing favourites with a son who is a liar, cheater and general scumbag. It is insane!
Luckily for us, Robert Alter's commentary contextualises these actions and the stories themselves, informing us about the nomadic culture that passed these stories down to us. He lets us know the ancient origins of some of the myths totally outside of a biblical origin and explains how and why they found their way into the text.
Alter's translation is excellent. Through it you understand this really is a HEBREW document. He maintains the structure and rhythm of this unique form of storytelling and because of it, a lot of Genesis makes much more sense to me. He points out when Hebrew words and meanings have been lost or misunderstood in other translations, yet he is not chauvinistic and gives credit when due to famous Western translations like KJV.
I would recommend this book to those of a scholarly or historical bent who want to better understand the source text in a detached and rigorous manner.
Also Jacob is a massive, massive dick! Team Esau all the way.
February 17, 2025
went from agnostic to atheist 👍
December 17, 2011
I have a hardback copy of this for reference on my shelf of Genesis commentaries, but also an increasingly ragged paperback copy that I've been carrying with me everywhere of late. Reading this during any available downtime has proven fruitful, allowing me to reflect again and again on the text.
Robert Alter's translation of Genesis attempts to restore the accuracy, power, and poeticism of the Hebrew text that has been dulled by the stilted, forced, and theologically tendentious renderings of the past. Many versions of the text of Genesis eviscerate it of parallelism and word repetition. Alter lets the Hebrew cultivate both enigma and delight, eschewing *explaining* the text in favour of representing it. Although he is beholden to JEDP theories of source criticism and the Documentary Hypothesis, he is not uncritically so. I was appreciative of the philological expertise shining through here. Alter's running commentary in the footnotes, which often take up half the page, were surprisingly helpful and welcome. Recommended to be read repeatedly.
Robert Alter's translation of Genesis attempts to restore the accuracy, power, and poeticism of the Hebrew text that has been dulled by the stilted, forced, and theologically tendentious renderings of the past. Many versions of the text of Genesis eviscerate it of parallelism and word repetition. Alter lets the Hebrew cultivate both enigma and delight, eschewing *explaining* the text in favour of representing it. Although he is beholden to JEDP theories of source criticism and the Documentary Hypothesis, he is not uncritically so. I was appreciative of the philological expertise shining through here. Alter's running commentary in the footnotes, which often take up half the page, were surprisingly helpful and welcome. Recommended to be read repeatedly.
December 4, 2015
Phenomenal work of literature. Surely, Genesis is vastly influential in a religious context, but it's especially fascinating when read in a literary context. Definitely refer to Alter's notes. Also, please find some lectures or a class to guide you; this book is packed with symbolism, clever wordplay, and perfectly crafted story that is very easy to miss. I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone willing to read deeply.
June 6, 2016
Genesis from its literal translation, including puns and other literally devices not seen in the biblical translations. Its like a story With footnotes that further describe background and other information that facilitie the understanding of the content.
June 13, 2024
An outstanding translation by Robert Alter. As someone wholly non-religious, this was my first time reading Genesis from beginning to end, and it blew my mind. I had read a few lines from the King James version, but never impressed me much. The KJV seemed flat, superficial, sanitised and unliterary. But Alter's translation brings back the literary prowess of the ancient texts, the ambiguity in meaning of the verses, the poetry and playfulness of the Hebrew. His commentary is substantial and equally as insightful. Alter taught me a lot on how to read in translation, and how to write in translation.
Simply superb, and will be reading Exodus next.
Simply superb, and will be reading Exodus next.
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December 31, 2024“Genesis begins with the making of heaven and earth and all life, and ends with the image of a mummy—Joseph’s—in a coffin. But implicit in the end is a promise of more life to come.” —Robert Alter, “To the Reader,” page xlvi
alter’s translation is comprehensive and his commentary is wholly welcomed. i’m not a religious scholar by any means, but i had no issue reading through the footnotes and the exegesis.
what reading this has firmly reminded me is that the bible is not simply just a religious text, but also a literary work rife with complex relationship dynamics and its own conventions of writing. i might just read more of alter’s translations in the future!
August 17, 2022
Interesting details and insights, both from a linguistic as well as a literary perspective. Although critical views are mentioned, Alter shows respect for the narrative, even when there are parts that may appear as a compilation of multiple accounts. As I worked through this book over several weeks, chapter by chapter, it awakened in me a fresh desire to have taken Hebrew more seriously in my younger years. Nonetheless, I think is the literary observations that are most useful, and these help demonstrate the flow of the whole Bible story.
August 15, 2023
Naively, I never considered the Book of Genesis to be great literature. Mr. Alter, in his translations, reminds us that the book is filled with relationships. Relationships between Man and God, Fathers and Sons, Husbands and Wives, and brothers. Most importantly, I learned about many insights that had not been obvious to me before.
Overall, Mr. Alter may not provide the excitement one might read in many of today's great writers, but he has produced a tremendous translation that deserves to be respected.
80 out of 100.
Overall, Mr. Alter may not provide the excitement one might read in many of today's great writers, but he has produced a tremendous translation that deserves to be respected.
80 out of 100.
January 14, 2023
Robert Alter - arguably the greatest Hebrew literature scholar we currently have - has given us a marvellous translation of Genesis here, not for clarity of presentation in English, but for clarity of Hebrew thought.
Couple this with his commentary, which runs underneath his translation, and you get some fabulous insights as to what is truly happening in the text.
If you love Genesis - or have cause to study it - this is an important addition to your library/bibliography.
Couple this with his commentary, which runs underneath his translation, and you get some fabulous insights as to what is truly happening in the text.
If you love Genesis - or have cause to study it - this is an important addition to your library/bibliography.
November 29, 2023
Honestly, probably my favorite thing I've read for COL this year. A great story and so much thematic and symbolic thought throughout. It made me want to read Exodus. Totally unexpected. (A lot of my enjoyment is probably due to this translation, specifically.)
July 3, 2024
Compelling translation. Alter offers fascinating semantic and linguistic justifications for his translation choices in his footnotes, along with cultural notes. These stories, almost too familiar to me, shimmered with fresh viitality.
September 7, 2020
Phenomenal
September 19, 2020
The Bible as a literary work of art; Alter’s masterful tour de force is very accessible yet tantalizingly incisive; absolutely brilliant.
December 19, 2020
great translation
September 23, 2021
Great !
It’s the notes and commentary in this translation that make this such a great book. I’ve been studying Genesis all year and this was invaluable to add in.
It’s the notes and commentary in this translation that make this such a great book. I’ve been studying Genesis all year and this was invaluable to add in.
September 23, 2021
A fresh and engaging translation of genesis. Some helpful commentary too. Nice to read a biblical book as a stand-alone book - and where better to start?
Read
September 19, 2022It's genesis.
July 22, 2023
Good research book
Robert Alter's writing of Genesis. It has many explanations of words and phrases. Used for my online course on Genesis.
Robert Alter's writing of Genesis. It has many explanations of words and phrases. Used for my online course on Genesis.
February 20, 2025
good themes but what a snooze fest! don’t read the introduction. bro just loves hebrew and hates other translations bc they don’t love hebrew as much as him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2016
Genesis
3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
ـــــــــــــــــــــــ
In this book there is information accepted by the man who believes in God, and the information can not be the faith
With regard to describe the prophets Jacob, Noah, Lot and two daughters scary things
3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
ـــــــــــــــــــــــ
In this book there is information accepted by the man who believes in God, and the information can not be the faith
With regard to describe the prophets Jacob, Noah, Lot and two daughters scary things
September 1, 2025
Alter's introduction "To the Reader" alone makes the book a great read. I did not read thru all of his translation but I thoroughly enjoyed his style. His notes and explanation given through out his translation are excellent. I believe most people really do not understand the difficulty in translating especially when dealing with a text thousands of years old from a completely different culture and society. His "To the Reader" probably gives the best explanation of that difficulty. There is always the difficulty of making the translation readable (think of the Living Bible paraphrase) and yet capturing the nuance of the Language. When I was elementary school the Living Bible was readable and I needed that. Yet Alter demonstrates the art of readability and yet conveying the nuance of the language at the same time, making this book highly recommended.
December 7, 2015
Alter is a Hebrew professor at UC Berkeley. This is one man's translation of Genesis. I got it for almost nothing at a library book sale. You can read other translations to see how committees reached different ways of translating it, perhaps Alter felt rejected and needed to go it alone. Each page contains footnotes on key words and brief comments on ideas, mostly parallel ideas in other ancient texts. Several other commentaries (like Ross) deal with the Hebrew words individually, citing others as sources. Alter tries to go it alone, as though the ideas were all his own expertise. Pretty audacious work, I don't recommend it as a stand-alone commentary.
1.5 stars.
1.5 stars.
June 20, 2013
This book is for anyone who is interested in the various interpretations, themes, and history of the Bible. Having said that, it is not an easy read. It is written at a very high level, especially with respect to literary analysis. If you enjoy analytically studying books like Isaiah, Romans and Revelation, this book is definitely for you.
March 3, 2013
Great translation of Genesis. I appreciated the notes at the bottom to help give me even more background as well as clear up some of my questions. Really enjoyed following Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their stories.
June 29, 2014
Invaluable for reading Genesis as narrative.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews