Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “lentil,” referring to the soup he gave his brother in exchange for his birthright (see Genesis 25:34). Note that another Spanish Sign Language sign for Jacob also users the sign for Jewish. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In German Sign Language it is a sign that shows the touching of the hip, described in Genesis 32:25:


“Jacob” in German Sign Language (source: Taub und katholisch )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “smooth arm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Jacob” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign signifying Jacob grabbing the heel of Esau during their birth (referring to Genesis 25:26). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia )


“Jacob” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

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

See also Esau.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jacob .

complete verse (Exodus 1:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 1:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “The sons of Jacob who went with their father to the land of Egypt together with their children are these:” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob taking their own family are” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the male children of Jacob who went-with/accompanied him to Egipto, with their families:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “The male children of Iakop who went to Isip with him, each of them went with their spouses and their children. The names of Israel’s male children are as follows:” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “When Jacob had gone Egypt, his children who they went with them together were” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “The sons of Jacob who went to Egypt with him along with their families were” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 1:1

It is not necessary to say These are the names in translating this verse, so long as the translation clearly introduces the list of names that follow. Thus Good News Translation has simply “The sons … were….”

Jacob and Israel were the same person. (See Gen 32.27-28.) The Hebrew says sons of Israel, but Good News Translation translates “sons of Jacob” to avoid confusion, and many translators will find this a helpful model. The expression came to Egypt suggests that the author was in Egypt when he wrote, but Good News Translation translates “went to Egypt,” suggesting that the writer was no longer there. The New English Bible’s [New English Bible] rendering, “who entered Egypt,” is closer to the Hebrew, which does not indicate where the writer was when he wrote this. However, since translators in many languages must locate the speaker or writer in order to have natural style, it is better to place the writer with the later Israelite community outside Egypt and translate “who went to Egypt.” In languages where all directional information depends upon where the speaker is located, translators should generally place the writer of Exodus in the area of Canaan or Palestine.

Each with his household means that each of Jacob’s sons took along his own “family.” Each son was the head of his own family, with the possible exception of Benjamin, who may not yet have been married. Each “family” included the wives, sons, daughters, and in some cases grandchildren. In addition each “family” included male and female servants with their own families, as well as other relatives who lived under the authority of the family head. In certain languages it will be necessary to translate this verse into two sentences; for example: “The following people are the sons of Jacob who went to Egypt with him. Each one took his family with him. These sons were….”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .