5Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot and all the possessions that they had gathered and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran, and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan,
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
The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Sarai” and “Sarah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign depicting coins on a headband, referring to women from the Middle East and North Africa who wear a headband decorated with small coins. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Lot” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “cousin,” referring to the fact that Lot is Abraham’s cousin (see Genesis 11:27). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Haran” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts two hills that are at that location. (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 12:5:
Kankanaey: “He took-along his spouse Sarai and his nephew Lot and also all his slaves and his possessions/goods (includes animals) to go to Canaan. When they arrived there,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Taking Sarai his wife, Lot the son of his younger brother, and all the wealth and servants which he had in Haran, and went towards Canaan.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “So Abram left Haran and went to Canaan, according to what- the LORD -had-told him. Abram was 75 years of-age at-that-time. His nephew Lot went (with) him. He also brought his wife Sarai and all their wealth/properties and servants that they gathered at Haran. When they arrived in Canaan,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Abram also took along all the possessions and slaves that they had accumulated/acquired in Haran town, and they left there and went to Canaan land.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And Abram took Sarai his wife: Sarai was introduced in 11.29.
And Lot his brother’s son: this is a repetition of Lot’s name from verse 4, with the detail of his relationship to Abram now added. Some translators prefer to identify Lot as Abram’s nephew in verse 4 and not in Gen 12.5. The kinship term used is his brother’s son, and translators should note this, as the son of a person’s sister is in some languages a different term. In some languages also his brother’s son may suggest that the brother is living, which is not the case here. A translation that deals with this problem says “… and he took Lot the son of his dead brother too.”
And all their possessions which they had gathered: this may be placed after the next clause in order to keep the human group together. Possessions refers to livestock as well as all movable property such as gold and silver, utensils, camp baggage, clothing. These possessions are all of Abram’s wealth.
Gathered translates the verb form of the noun translated possessions. The sense is “acquired, obtained, came to own, became owner of.”
And the persons that they had gotten in Haran: persons is literally nefesh “souls.” The reference is to Abram’s “slaves,” as in 36.6, which speaks of the numbers of Esau’s household. New English Bible calls them “dependents.” Other versions have “people,” but Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch are more precise in this context, with “slaves.” For comments on “slave” see 9.25. In many areas where people are not familiar with slavery, a translation like “working men and women” is used. They had gotten in Haran: the verb is different from the one translated gathered above, but the general sense of “acquire, obtain” is the same. In some translations this is rendered more generally as “those who had stayed with them in Haran.”
For the final statement it may be best to begin a new sentence. They set forth to go translates two verbs of movement, which are often best translated as “they left for,” “they departed for,” and “they went to.” Land of Canaan is first used in 11.31. See comments there. Translators should consult a biblical atlas to see possible routes Abram may have taken from Haran to Canaan. See also the map on page 18. The area called Canaan, which is roughly modern Israel (including occupied Arab territories) and Lebanon, was under Egyptian political and military power (see also 10.19).
The final clause of verse 5 is translated by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation as a “when” clause with the main verb coming in verse 6: When they had come to the land of Canaan. It is possible to regard this clause as completing the action of the journey to Canaan; for example, “they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there” (New International Version). However, it is better to relate this clause to verse 6, as in Good News Translation, and begin a new paragraph with it.
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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