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 Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sandal” or “shoe” similar in English is translated in Noongar as djena-bwoka or “feet kangaroo skin.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 14:23:
Kankanaey: “that I will take absolutely none of your (sing.) possessions, even just a thread or a tie of a chinelas (thongs) lest you (sing.) say that you (sing.) are the one who made- me -rich.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “I will not take even a single thread of yours. Otherwise you might say — ‘I have made Abram rich.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “that I will- never -take anything from your possessions, even thread or string/strap of sandals, so-that you can- not -say that you have-caused- me -to-become-rich.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “that I will not accept even one thread or a thong of a sandal from anything that belongs to you. As a result, you will never be able to say, ‘I caused Abram to become rich.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
That I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours: this is the content of what Abram has sworn not to do. The Hebrew construction is used particularly following an oath and expresses an emphatic negative equivalent to something like “I certainly will not take,” “Under no conditions will I take….” Abram will not take anything, not even a thread or a sandal-thong, which is the equivalent of saying that he would not keep for himself even the most insignificant item in the loot. Sandal-thong refers to the strap on a sandal used for tying the sandal to the foot and ankle. See Good News Translation “sandal strap.” If sandals are not known, it may be possible to say “shoe string” or to use a more idiomatic expression that refers to a personal object of least possible value. One example of the way this whole statement may be expressed in translation is “… I will not keep anything at all that is yours. Even if it is only a sandal strap, it will be given back to you.”
Lest you should say may need to be expressed “in order that you will not be able to say” or “so that you cannot claim.”
I have made Abram rich: for comments on rich see 13.2. These words are a direct quotation, which may have to be adjusted in some languages to say “so that you can’t say you made me a rich man.” This part of the verse is expressed in one translation as “… so that you can’t keep me in your heart [or, insides] and say you have made me rich.”
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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