Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Moses” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

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:


“Moses” in French Sign Language (source )

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 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).


“Moses” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

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 Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff. )


“Moses” in Estonian Sign Language, source: Glossary of the EKNK Toompea kogudus

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Moses .

Translation commentary on Daniel 9:11

All Israel: that is, all the people of Israel.

Turned aside: see verse 5. The verb is used here in parallel with transgressed (violated or broken).

Thy law: the use of the singular to refer to the whole range of God’s commands may be natural in some languages, but in others the plural form will be required.

Obey thy voice: see verse 10 on the expression as a whole. And note the comment in the previous verses on the pronoun usage and on the terms “listen” and “obey.”

The curse and oath: this is another case of the figure of speech where two Hebrew nouns joined by “and” are used to convey a single idea. It has been rendered “the sworn malediction” (New American Bible, Anchor Bible), “the curse embodied in the oath” (An American Translation), and “the curse … which was solemnly threatened” (Moffatt). Since the terms curse and oath are singular in the Hebrew, the Good News Translation plural “curses” may be seen as a translation of both. Many languages will not have two different terms to use here that have approximately the same meaning. On the curses referred to, see Deut 27.14-26 and 28.15-68.

Which are written in the law of Moses: since the passive form may be troublesome to some translators, this may be rendered “which the Law of Moses talks about,” “which the Law of Moses describes,” or possibly even “which we can read in the Law of Moses.”

The servant of God: or “your servant, O God,” which will probably be more natural in the context of this prayer. Compare verse 6, where the prophets are also specifically described as God’s servants.

Have been poured out upon us: this is obviously figurative language. The image of pouring curses may not be at all natural in many languages. In English it has been rendered “rained down on us” (Revised English Bible) and “vented on us” (Moffatt), but these are still figurative and may not be helpful in other languages. In some cases translators may prefer to say “caused to fall on us” or simply “made happen to us.”

The whole second sentence of this verse can possibly be restructured as follows: “So because of our disobedience, you have caused us to receive the curses that are described in the Law of Moses, your servant.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .