ancestors

The Hebrew and Ge’ez that is translated as “ancestors” in English is translated in Kwere as “deceased ancestors” because the word for “ancestor” can also mean “grandfather.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Isaac

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”):


“Isaac” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Isaac .

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

complete verse (Acts 7:32)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 7:32:

  • Uma: “‘I am the God worshipped by your (sing.) ancestors. I am the God worshipped by Abraham, Ishak, and Yakub.’ Hearing this, Musa trembled from his fear, and he did not dare look at that flaming bush any longer.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘I am the God worshiped by your forefathers, Ibrahim and Isahak and Yakub.’ Musa trembled because of his fear and he did not dare look.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “‘I am the God whom your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipped.’ Now Moses trembled and he did not dare to look at it because he was afraid.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “At-which-point he heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘I am the God whom your (sing.) ancestors Abraham and Isaac and Jacob worshipped.’ When he heard that, he trembled with his fear and he didn’t dare to look-closely.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “saying, ‘I am the God of your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ When Moises heared that, he shook with fear, and no longer dared to look.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

For the Old Testament quotes, see Exodus 3:6.

Abraham

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).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

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

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

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)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Abraham .

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 3:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 3:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “I am the God of your grandfathers/ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ And there, Moses covered his eyes because he feared to look at God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Again the Lord said, ‘I am the Lord of your ancestors, the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Then Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look at the Lord.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I (am) the God of your (sing.) ancestors/[lit. old-ones], the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ When Moises heard this, he covered his face, for he was-afraid to-look at God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “I am the God of your ancestors Abraam and Aisak and Iakop.’ And Moses heard like that and so he hid his face, because he was afraid to see God.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And he again said to him «I am God of your father and ancestors your namely Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.» And Moses hid [eye], feared seeing him.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he said, ‘I am God, whom your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshiped.’ So Moses/I covered his/my face, because he/I was afraid that God would kill him/me if he/I looked at him.” (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 .