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)

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.

Jacob

The name that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English means “he will supplant,” “he that follows after,” “a heeler,” “one who trips up,” “takes hold by the land.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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 .

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 (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)

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 .

Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("say")

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, ōse-rare-ru (仰せられる) or “say” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )