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 “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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 13:12:
Kankanaey: “They went and inhabited-with the people there in the plain, and they set-up the tents in-which- they -camped close to Sodoma which was a town of evil people who had many sins against God. Plural Abram however, they stayed in the territory of Canaan.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Abram stayed in Canaan. Lot just stayed in various places along the fertile banks of the Jordan. He went to pitch his tent toward Sodom.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Abram stayed-behind in Canaan while Lot on-the-other-hand was there in the cities of the valleys/plains. Lot stood-up tents near Sodom.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Abram stayed in the Canaan area, and Lot started to live near the cities in the plain of the Jordan River, and he set up his tents near Sodom city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verse 12 brings the separation episode to a close, while verse 13, with its further reference to the wicked people of Sodom, foreshadows a future development in the story in chapters 18 and 19. Verse 12 begins by contrasting the areas where the two kinsmen settle.
Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan: dwelt translates the usual verb meaning to live. There is no evidence in the text that the narrator is contrasting Abram’s manner of living with that of Lot, since the same verb is used with both. Good News Translation says “Abram stayed in the land….” The sense is well expressed by “settled” in New English Bible, Revised English Bible, and others.
While Lot dwelt among the cities of the valley: while is used by Revised Standard Version to contrast the two events as happening at the same time. New English Bible makes the contrast apply to the difference between the places the two men settled: “Abram … in the land…, but Lot … among the cities of the plain.”
And moved his tent as far as Sodom: moved his tent translates a verb meaning “he tented” or “he camped.” Since the cities of the valley refer to Sodom and Gomorrah, it will often be clearer to relate cities to Sodom; for example, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “Lot went to live by the cities of the valley, near the city of Sodom.” We may also say “Lot went where the cities on the plain were and camped near the city of Sodom.”
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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