The name that is transliterated as “Alexander” in English means “defending men,” “one who turns away evil.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that combines “Annas” (high priest and Alexander’s father) and “taking care” (derived from the meaning of “Alexander” or “defender of men”). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Amminadab” in English means “my liberal people,” “my people are willing,” “my kinsman is generous.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that combines the number 3 (Amminadab is a descendant of Judah and Judah is the third listed tribe) and for his son Nahshon who was a prince of the tribe of Judah. (Source: Aline Martins and Paul Fahnestock)
The name that is transliterated as “Hermogenes” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “born of” and “risk, danger” (a possible meaning of the name — other possible meaning: “born lucky,” source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 ). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Hymenaeus” in English means “nuptial,” “belonging to marriage,” “wedding song” (from Hymen, the god of marriage). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
The name that is transliterated as “Hermes” in English means “gain,” “messenger or herald of the Greek gods, especially Zeus,” “bringer of good luck.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with the sign for “interpreter.” It is possible that “Hermes” is derived from ἑρμηνεύς, the Greek word for “interpreter” (see “messenger” or “herald” above). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English means “taken out of the water,” “saved out of the water,” “a son.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).
In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:
The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).
In Swiss-German Sign Language (and Hungarian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).
In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
In Korean Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the arms held up by Moses to assure the Israelites victory over the Amalekites (see Exodus 17:11).
