The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Japheth” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “Europe,” referring to the fact that Japheth traditionally is seen as the forefather of the European people. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”
Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)
In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Shem” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “Arab,” referring to the fact that Shem traditionally is seen as the forefather of Semitic people, including Abraham and his descendants (see Genesis 11:26 et al.)(Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Note that the terms “Semite” and “Semitic” are derived from “Shem.”
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 10:21:
Newari: “Sons were also born to Shem, the elder brother of Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Shem the older-sibling of Jafet was the source of all the Hebrews.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Shem, the older brother of Japheth, became the father of Eber, and the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The third unit of the chapter takes up the descendants of Shem, the first of Noah’s sons and the one selected to be the ancestor of Abraham. Unlike verses 2 and 6, which give the names of sons of Japheth and Ham, verse 21 refers to Shem as the father of Eber’s children and as the older brother of Japheth. Nothing is said regarding Shem’s relation to Ham. So Shem’s section has a double introduction (verses 21-22), attributed by many scholars to the combining of two sources.
Interpreters generally see the Hebrew text of verse 21 as fragmented. For example, there is no subject for the passive form of the verb yeled “to be born.” Revised Standard Version and others supply “children.” Inserted are two statements, father of all the children of Eber and elder brother of Japheth. Shem could not be the father of Eber’s children according to verse 25; therefore father must be taken to mean “ancestor” or something similar. Translators wishing to make verse 21 clear must often restructure it more than Revised Standard Version has done. For example, Bible en français courant says “Shem, the older brother of Japheth, also had sons. He was the ancestor of Eber and all his descendants.” Good News Translation is similar, but saying “was the ancestor” assumes that he had sons, and so Good News Translation does not repeat this information. New English Bible translates “Sons were born also to Shem, elder brother of Japheth, the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy follows the same pattern by saying “Shem, who was the older brother of Japheth, also had sons. All the sons of Eber were Shem’s descendants.” All of these are suitable models for translating.
Translators should note that Good News Translation renders Eber as “the Hebrews.” Speiser says pointedly “Eber is the eponymous [one whose name is applied] ancestor of the Hebrews.” However, in his translation Speiser uses “Eber” in both verse 21 and verse 24. Westermann and others do not find the arguments for identifying Eber with the Hebrews as valid. Most modern translations use Eber and not “the Hebrews,” and this is the recommendation of the Handbook.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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