nurse (verb)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “nurse” in English is translated in German as stillen or “to quiet.”

The das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) and the BasisBibel (publ. 2021) also use the same verb in Psalm 131:2 (for this choice, see here).

Sarai / Sarah

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)


“Sarai” and “Sarah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Sarah .

Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English is translated in the vast majority of sign languages, including American Sign Language with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign for that demonstrates his new destiny. Previously, he had been called to wander from his home, and the name “Abram” reflected this movement (see here). The new sign name is in one location and stays there, showing Abraham will be given a land to call his own. At this time, Abraham was in the southern part of Canaan, which is shown on the base arm by the location near the elbow. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Abraham” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Abraham .

complete verse (Genesis 21:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 21:7:

  • Kankanaey: “Because previously, would there be anyone indeed to say to Abraham that his spouse would cause-(a child)-to-nurse (RQ = of course not)? But here however is our (excl.) child to-whom-I-have-given-birth in his old-age.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Up to now no one could have said to Abraham that I would nurse a child [lit.: cause a child to drink milk]. Yet after he has became an old man I have given birth to a son by him.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Who could-have-thought to tell Abraham that I could- still -nurse/[lit. could-cause-to-breast] a child? But I still was-able-to-give-birth even-though he is old already.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then she also said, ‘No one would have said to Abraham that some day Sarah would nurse a child, but I have given birth to a son when Abraham is very old.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 21:7

Who would have said to Abraham: this opens what may be a rhetorical question or an exclamation. It carries the sense that what has happened is very surprising, and expresses in this context an emotion of joy. It may be rendered in various ways, including, for example, a negative statement, “Nobody would have said to Abraham…,” or a rhetorical question with a reply, “Would anyone have said to Abraham…? Of course not.”

That Sarah would suckle children: this is part of the rhetorical question or exclamation. In some languages this form must be shifted from the third person to the first person: “that I would suckle….” Suckle means to give the breast to, to nurse or breast-feed. Children translates a Hebrew plural, but in some languages this will be translated more naturally as a singular. In some languages it is necessary to include what is assumed in the original text, that Sarah would first give birth to a child and then breast-feed it; for example, “… that your wife Sarah will bear a child and give it her milk.” And since suckle children is really an indirect way of saying that Sarah will have a baby, some translations express this directly; for example, “Everyone reckoned that I could never have a baby for Abraham.”

Yet I have born him a son in his old age: Yet translates the Hebrew ki, which here signals something that is unexpected, surprising, in view of what has just been said. For the wording of this sentence, refer to Gen 21.2. The element of surprise may be brought out in a number of ways; examples from two translations are “Before, nobody could tell Abraham that… But look! He is very old and I have…,” and “… Well it doesn’t matter that he is very old; I have still had his son.”

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 .