Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel: Just as verses 29-31 listed the descendants of Hagar, and verses 32-33 listed the descendants of Keturah, now verse 34 lists the descendants of Sarah. The descendants of Esau are dealt with first, in verses 35-54. Then in chapter 2, the writer turns to the descendants of Israel. The writer of 1–2 Chronicles uses Israel to designate both the individual and his descendants, the Israelites, although the Septuagint here reads “Jacob” instead of Israel. To avoid confusion, Good News Translation uses the personal name “Jacob” when the reference is to the individual named Jacob. Good News Translation avoids the repetition of the name of Isaac and reduces this verse to a single sentence by translating the sense of the first sentence in the words “Abraham’s son Isaac.” Translators may choose whichever structure seems most natural in the receptor language.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
The name that is transliterated as “Isaac” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and French Sign Language with a sign that is linked to his mother’s laughter when she hears that she will be pregnant with him (referring to Genesis 18:12 – 18:15) and also is the meaning of the Hebrew “Isaac” (Yitschaq — “he laughs”):
The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English means “father of a multitude,” “father of mercy,” “father of many nations.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In the vast majority of sign languages, including American Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).
In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign for that demonstrates his new destiny. Previously, he had been called to wander from his home, and the name “Abram” reflected this movement (see here). The new sign name is in one location and stays there, showing Abraham will be given a land to call his own. At this time, Abraham was in the southern part of Canaan, which is shown on the base arm by the location near the elbow. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)
“Abraham” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL
In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )
Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)
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