Abram

The term that is transliterated as “Abram” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign signifying sojourning with a staff, clearly differentiating it from Abraham. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Abram” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Similarly, in Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign that demonstrates that he has to wander from his home. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Abram” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

Seer also Abraham.

complete verse (Genesis 11:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 11:27:

  • Kankanaey: “Tera, he was the father of Abram and Nahor and Haran. Haran for-his-part was the father of Lot.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The account of Terah is like this — He was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. The son of Haran was Lot.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is the story about the family of Tera. Tera was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. Haran is the father of Lot.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “This is/I will now give a list of the descendants of Terah: Terah’s sons were Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran’s son was named Lot.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 11:27

Now these are the descendants of Terah: the wording here is identical to the opening of 6.9; 10.1. These points ahead to his three sons.

Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran: was the father of translates the same verb used in the generation formulas in 5.3, 4, 6, 9, and so on.

And Haran was the father of Lot does not begin a genealogy of Haran but only serves to introduce Lot, who accompanied his grandfather Terah to Haran, and who later goes with Abram to Canaan.

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 .