Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was used by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Exodus 8:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 8:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “Moses replied that, ‘If/When I leave here, I will pray to God, and tomorrow the flies will leave your home, where your officials are and your people. So, do not deceive us and later you refuse to let us go and make sacrifices to God.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Moses answered,’ As soon as I go from here tomorrow, I’ll pray to the Lord that the flies will leave Pharaoh, his officials and his people. But it must be sure that Pharo does not betray again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.’” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Moises answered, ‘Okay, when- I -leave here, I will-pray to the LORD, and tomorrow all the insects will- now -disappear from you (plur.). But you (sing.) be-certain that you (sing.) do- not -deceive us (excl.) again by not letting- us -go to offer sacrifices/offerings to the LORD.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “And then Moses said, ‘Yo, I will leave you here, and when it’s done, then I [will] pray to Chief God, and then tomorrow he will drive away the flies from you (sing.) and your leaders and your people. But [it’s] no good [if] deceive us (excl.) again and so prevent us from making offerings to our Chief God.’” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “And Moses said to him «Look! I will leave from you, I will go entreat for you Yahweh, [that] he might chase away fly out from house your, and house of servants your, and house of people your tomorrow. But, you do not us (excl.) [eye] again deceive, do not people of Israel impede let them go give Yahweh thing on altar!»” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “Moses/I said, ‘Listen to me! After I leave you, I will pray to Yahweh, asking that tomorrow he will cause the swarms of flies to leave you and your officials and the rest of your people. But do not deceive us again by refusing to let our people go to offer sacrifices to Yahweh!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English means “taken out of the water,” “saved out of the water,” “a son.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language with a sign 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 (and Hungarian 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 Korean Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the arms held up by Moses to assure the Israelites victory over the Amalekites (see Exodus 17:11).


“Moses” in Korean Sign Language, source: Korean Sign Language Bible House

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 8:29

Then Moses said introduces the direct reply of Moses to the Pharaoh’s proposal in verse 28. Behold is omitted by many translations, but its influence may be expressed along with the words that follow, I am going out from you. The idea intended is “The moment I leave you” (New Jerusalem Bible). So New Revised Standard Version has “As soon as I leave you.” And I will pray to the LORD uses the same word as verse 28, so Moses agrees to pray to Yahweh.

It should be noted, however, that Moses does not add here the words “for you” as in verse 5. And the subject of the prayer will not be that the Pharaoh will have a change of heart. Rather Moses will ask Yahweh that the swarms of flies may depart. The word that is really the conjunction waw, so it is possible to translate as Durham does: “I am going straight out from your presence to pray to Yahweh, and the swarm of flying insects will leave.” This suggests that Moses has no doubt that the plague will be removed when he prays to Yahweh.

From Pharaoh seems a bit awkward, since Moses is speaking to the king. We should assume that this was a polite custom in the court of a king, to address the king in the form of the third person (as in 2 Sam 14.12). One may translate “from the king,” or simply change to the pronoun “you” and say “leave you” (Good News Translation). From his servants, and from his people may also be changed to second person singular, “your officials, and your people” (Good News Translation). This of course refers to the members of the kings’ court and to all the Egyptians.

Tomorrow refers to when “the flies will leave” (Good News Translation), not to when Moses will pray. Moses is so confident that Yahweh will hear his prayer that he even sets the time for the answer to take place. The word for tomorrow does not indicate any special time of day, so New Jerusalem Bible‘s “tomorrow morning” may be too specific.

Only is the same word used by the Pharaoh in verse 28. This introduces a condition and a warning that Moses now gives to the king. New American Bible uses “however,” and other translations simply start the sentence with “But.” Let not Pharaoh is still a part of Moses’ reply to the king. The meaning is “you must not.” Deal falsely again refers to the way the Pharaoh has previously changed his mind about letting the people go. Literally the Hebrew says “Only let not Pharaoh add to deceit.” This means “you must not deceive us again.” Contemporary English Version has a good model: “Only make sure that you’re telling the truth this time.” One may also express this as “… that you are not lying this time….”

By not letting the people go means to “prevent the people from going” (Good News Translation), or refusing to let them leave Egypt. To sacrifice to the LORD means “to offer sacrifices to the LORD” (New International Version), as explained in verses 26-28.

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 .