The term that is transliterated as “Hagar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter H and “escaped,” referring to Genesis 21:14. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Hagar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines “Egypt” and “servant,” referring to the fact that Hagar was a slave from Egypt (see Genesis 16:1). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 16:1:
Kankanaey: “When plural Abram had stayed in Canaan for ten years, he and his wife Sarai still had no children. But there was an-unmarried-young-woman who was a slave of Sarai who was from-Egipto who had-the-name Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, ‘It’s-all-right-if you (sing.) (i.e., why don’t you) go sleep-with this slave of mine so-that maybe she will give-birth, so-that it will-be-counted as our (dual) child, because here-now God has made- me -childless.’ And Abram agreed, so Sarai handed-over her slave to him so-that she would be his second wife.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “From Abram’s wife Sarai there were no children. She had a maid servant of the land of Egypt called Hagar.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Sarai the wife of Abram was- not -able-to-give-birth. She had an Egiptohanon female servant whose name is Hagar.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Up to that time, Abram’s wife Sarai had not given birth to any children for Abram. But she had a female slave from Egypt, whose name was Hagar.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children: Now is used in English here as a transition marker to indicate that a new story is beginning. Many modern English versions do not use Now to show this transition. The white space and the chapter number tend to make the transition obvious for English readers, whether a heading is used or not. Some languages, however, require a marker to show that a new story is beginning. Others may require a story opening such as “Here is what happened between Sarai and her maid.” In some languages the most natural way to begin is to use the indication of time, which is actually found at the beginning of Gen 16.3. For example, one translation begins: “Well, Abram had been living in the land of Canaan for ten years, and still his wife Sarai didn’t have any children.”
For wife see comments on 2.24.
Bore … children translates the verb meaning “to give birth.” The narrator picks this information up from 11.30, “Now Sarai was barren; she had no child,” and repeats it here as necessary background to the conflict that now arises. In that society the barren woman suffered disgrace, but it was considered to be God who caused the condition. See the parallel case of Rachel in 30.1-24, and also that of Hannah in 1 Sam 1.6. See also children as God’s gift in 33.5; Psa 127.3. It is significant that the LORD, who had promised Abram a son, is the one who is withholding the coming of this son. Sarai’s proposal in verse 2 is a human attempt to solve the problem of her barrenness.
She had an Egyptian maid: the sense is that Sarai owned, possessed, had at her command a female slave. Sarai appears to have had special rights over Hagar, and Abram’s relation to Hagar was given by the authority of Sarai. Abram did not himself have the right of ownership over Hagar. In translation a descriptive phrase such as “a young woman who worked for her” would be inadequate. The expression should make clear that Sarai has complete authority and control over Hagar; for example, “Sarai owned a young Egyptian slave” or “A young Egyptian woman belonged to Sarai.”
Whose name was Hagar: this name has been variously interpreted, but the only thing that is fairly certain is that it was a female personal name.
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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