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 13:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 13:1:

  • Kankanaey: “When Abram were in Egipto, he had become- utterly -rich in sheep, goats, cattle, silver, and gold. Upon his departing-from there then, he returned to Negev in the south of Canaan taking-with (him) his spouse and all of his possessions. His nephew Lot also went-along.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Abram and his wife went from the land of Egype towards the Negev, taking everything that they had. Lot also went with them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From Egipto, Abram went to Negev with his wife and brought (with him) all his properties, and Lot also went with them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Abram and Sarai left Egypt, and they took along all his possessions, and Lot went with them to the Negev Desert.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 13:1

So Abram went up from Egypt: some modern versions consider verse 1 to be a consequence of 12.20 and therefore keep it in the same paragraph as 12.20. It is also possible to begin a new episode without reference to the previous action, and this is what Good News Translation and others do, with “Abram went north….” Bible en français courant relates 13.1 to the previous narrative and places it with chapter 12. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy introduces 13.1 with a time clause, “When Abram left Egypt with his wife and all he had….” All of these are possible ways to begin Gen 13.1. Some languages may wish to make the connection with 12.20 stronger by saying, for example, “After Abram and Sarai had been sent away by the king of Egypt….”

Went up from Egypt: went up is the opposite of the expression used in 12.10. See there for comments. Good News Translation, which had “went … south” in 12.20, now says “went north.” However, southern Canaan is east of Egypt, and so the error in Good News Translation needs to be adjusted to “went east,” if translators wish to follow that version. Many languages will not use the terms “up” and “down” to describe direction in the movement between Egypt and Canaan, but may say, for example, “left Egypt and went back” or “returned to the Negeb.” A translation that is typical of many says “went out of Egypt traveling east, and came back to the southern part of Canaan.”

He and his wife, and all that he had has the same sense as expressed in 12.5. All that he had means “all his possessions” or “everything he owned” (Good News Translation).

And Lot with him: Lot was last mentioned 12.4 as accompanying Abram. In the episode that tells what happened in Egypt, Lot was not mentioned. Into the Negeb refers to the place where Abram, Lot, and all those who accompany them go. For comments on Negeb see 12.9.

Revised Standard Version has followed the Hebrew word order in this verse and as a result constructs an awkward English sentence. A clearer rendering is “Abram took his wife, his nephew Lot, and everything he owned and left Egypt. They returned to the Negeb desert.” Good News Translation, which translated Negeb as “southern part of Canaan” in 12.9, uses the same expression here.

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 .