Hagar

The name “Hagar” or “Abataza” means “flight” and derived from that “fugitive,” “immigrant,” “sojourner.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

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)


“Hagar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Hagar and Hagar from an Egyptian Christian Perspective .

See also Hagar and Her Child in the Wilderness.

years (age)

In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).

Norm Mundhenk tells this story:

“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”

In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also advanced in years.

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

See also Abraham.

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Ishmael

The term that is transliterated as “Ishmael” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter I and the sign signifying “stubborn” (also similar to “donkey”), referring to Genesis 16:12. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Ishmael” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts shooting bow and arrow, referring to the fact that Ishmael was skilled with his bow (see Genesis 21:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ishmael” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

More information on Ishmael .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (Genesis 16:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 16:16:

  • Kankanaey: “Eighty and six were the years of Abram when- Hagar -gave-birth to that-aforementioned child of hers/his.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time Abram was eighty-six (86) years old.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The age of Abram was 86 years when Ishmael was born.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son Ishmael.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Hagar's story

The following is an oral presentation in a dialog style of Hagar’s story to a female audience in Kako:

 

—That many sheep and goats to buy wives and only one wife?—

“Well, Sara couldn’t have children. They laid down together but she never got a belly [pregnant].”

—A sigh of pain—

“But Sara had a work-girl from another tribe and she being Nya Tou [woman of the house] told her work-girl to go lie down with Abram, the rich man.”

—Clicks of agreement—

“So, work-girl named Hagar got a belly

—Yes, yes, yes, Hagar got a belly—

“Well, what do you think? Hagar lifted up her heart [became proud] and turned her head away from Sara.”

—Oh, Oh, Oh, Hagar makes trouble for Nya Tou. Sara’s head will get hot—

“Yes, Sara’s head got hot and she made Hagar work harder and harder. Sara had a leopard’s heart [was cruel] toward Hagar and so one night Hagar ran away from the rich man’s camp.”

—Yi, yi yi, Hagar running to the bush with a belly—

“After going a long way, Hagar got thirsty and knelt down by a spring to drink when she heard the voice of Ndjambie [God] speaking to her.

—Silence—

“Where you going, Hagar?’
“Hagar answered, ‘I am running away from Nya Tou; she has a leopard’s heart.’”

—Go back home, Hagar, take care of your belly—

“Ndjambie told her just that. ‘You will have a male child and you must name him Ndjambie-hears-you (Ishmael).”
“Ndjambie has heard your cries, Hagar.’”

—Silence again—

“Then Hagar asked herself, ‘Have I seen Ndjambie and I am still alive and well?’”
“Hagar named that spring Ndjambie is one who sees me.”

—Did you hear this, Ndjambie hears the cries of a second wife, goes to the bush to find a second wife, hears and sees work-girl with a belly. Oh, sisters, did we ever think such a thing of Ndjambie?—

 

Source: Reyburn 2002, p. 194f.

Translation commentary on Genesis 16:16

The report of Ishmael’s birth concludes by giving the age of Abram at the birth of his first son.

Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram: it may be more natural in many languages to say “When Ishmael was born to Hagar, Abram was eighty-six years old” or “When Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abram was eighty-six years old.” Note that Good News Translation does not repeat the reference to giving birth but simply says “at that time.” Translators may find this a suitable model.

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 .