Jannes and Jambres

The name that is transliterated as “Jannes” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “destroy” and “snake.” Both Jannes and Jambres refer to the sorcerers of Exodus 7:11 and Exodus 7:12 that are named in post-Tanakh sources. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Jannes” in Libras (source )

The name that is transliterated as “Jambres” (also: Mambres) in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “magic foam” (a possible meaning of the name is “foaming healer”) and “snake.” See for the reason above. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Jambres” in Libras (source )

For more information see Jannes and Jambres .

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

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (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 Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Exodus 7:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 7:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “They also threw down their sticks and they changed to be snakes. But the staff of Aaron swallowed those (staffs) of the others.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They each threw down their own staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staff.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Each one of them threw their staffs/walking-sticks and they also were-made-into snakes. But the snake of Aaron gobbled-up/devoured/swallowed-whole their snakes.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Each one of them threw their sticks down to the ground and then they changed and became snakes. But Aron’s snake swallowed their snakes until they were finished.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “each throwing his cane down, it was changed into serpent. And cane of Aaron went swallowed cane of others those.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “They all threw down their sticks, and they became snakes. But Aaron’s stick, which had become a snake, swallowed up all their sticks!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Exod 7:12

Every man includes only the “wise men” and the “sorcerers.” Each of them evidently had his own rod, or staff. Good News Translation‘s “walking stick” may not be the best term in this verse, even though the Hebrew word is the same. (See the comment at verse 9.) They became serpents means that the rods of all these magicians “turned into snakes.” (The same term is used as in verse 9.) Aaron’s rod, of course, was in the form of a serpent when it swallowed up the other serpents. The delightful picture is that all the rods of the magicians, which they evidently used in their magic, were completely gone. They had been destroyed by a greater power, the power of Yahweh, here represented by Aaron’s rod.

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 .