complete verse (Exodus 18:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 18:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the father-in-law of Moses saw what Moses was doing, he said that, ‘What is this you are doing? Why do you counsel the people alone, and others are standing around you the whole day?’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When Jethro saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘what is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jetro saw this, he said to Moises, ‘Why do- you (sing.) -do this for the people? Why (are) you (sing.) the only-(one) doing this? The people are-lining-up in front of you (sing.) from morning until twilight/dusk.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And Moses father-in-law Ietro saw all the things which Moses was doing to help the people and so he said, ‘These things which you’re doing for this people, how is it? What are you doing, single-handedly straightening disputes for them? Look, these people have been standing and awaiting you [from] morning until the afternoon.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “When father-in-law of Moses had seen many things which Moses was doing for people all, he asked him like this «What is it that you are doing for it people like this? Many people these be present standing in front of you from the morning go arrive evening thus, what is it that you are judging for it people alone?»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “When Jethro saw everything that Moses/I was doing for the people, he said, ‘Why are you doing all this for the people?/You should not be doing all this for the people! Why are you doing this by yourself, and all the people are crowding around you, from morning until evening, asking you to make decisions for them ?’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 Exod 18:14

When is the conjunction waw in the Hebrew. Moses’ father-in-law may be changed to “his father-in-law” (New International Version), or simply “Jethro” for a more natural flow. Saw all that he was doing means that Jethro was observing “everything that Moses had to do” (Good News Translation). For the people refers to the Israelites in general. He said introduces the question that Jethro asked.

What is this that you are doing for the people, literally “What is this davar [deed, thing] you are doing,” is a rhetorical question, for Jethro knew what Moses was doing. New Jerusalem Bible changes it to “Why do you do this for the people?” Why do you sit alone does not mean “Why are you sitting alone” but “Why are you doing this all alone” (Good News Translation). Translator’s Old Testament has “Why are you the only one who sits as judge,” and Contemporary English Version has “Why are you the only judge?”

And all the people stand about you means “while all the people stand around you” (New Revised Standard Version). The word for stand, however, means to station oneself, as in 17.9. It is a different word from the one used in verse 13. Durham has “standing in line before you.” From morning till evening repeats the words of verse 13. Contemporary English Version has “Why do you let these people crowd around you from morning till evening?”

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 .