toward the Negeb

The Hebrew that is translated as “toward the Negeb” or similar in English is translated in Bura-Pabir as “toward the south.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

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 12:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 12:9:

  • Kankanaey: “Then plural Abram again departed and they moved-repeatedly heading-south to Negev which was in the territory of Canaan just the same.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In this way he moved about from place to place going towards the Negev.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Later they transferred again. They continued travelling going-towards Negev.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then they left there and started traveling south to the Negev Desert.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 12:9

And Abram journeyed on: the connecting word in this context is taken by most translations to introduce another series of events after those described in the previous verse. Good News Translation says “Then….” We may also say “After that,” “Later,” “And then.” New English Bible and Revised English Bible, however, take verse 9 as giving a summary of all the moves in the previous verses: “Thus Abram journeyed by stages….”

Journeyed on translates the verb rendered “migrated” in 11.2. See there for discussion. The particular construction used in verse 9 refers to nomadic movement by pulling up tent pegs or breaking camp and moving, as Good News Translation says, “from place to place.” One translation expresses the sense of constant traveling by saying “Abram kept going walking and walking to that desert country called Negeb.”

Abram’s migration continued to be toward the south or, as Revised Standard Version says, still going toward the Negeb. Negeb is a transliterated Hebrew word that means “dry land,” but it is also used for the direction “south” as well as for the vast Negeb desert area extending south of the Judean hills to Kadesh, where it merges into the wilderness of Sin. See a biblical atlas, and see the map on page 18.

The text does not actually say that Abram reached the Negeb, or give the name of any place there where he camped. But since his next move is further south again to Egypt, it is clear that he did at least pass that way. The fact of Abram’s arrival may be included in the translation, if this is necessary in the narrative; for example, one translation concludes verse 9 by saying “and they kept on [traveling and] making camp until they came to the Negeb region.”

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 .