Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English is translated in virtually all 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 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.

complete verse (Genesis 22:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 22:20:

  • Newari: “One day Abraham learned that his younger brother Nahor had also had eight children from Milcah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Sometime later, Abraham heard-the-news that Nahor his sibling had-children with Milca:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After these things happened, someone told Abraham, ‘Your brother Nahor’s wife, Milcah, has also given birth to children. She has eight sons.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 22:20

Now after these things is similar to the opening of chapter 22, which Good News Translation renders “Some time later” in both places. See comments on Gen 22.1.

It was told Abraham: the passive voice is used in the Hebrew, but this must often be made active in translation. Good News Translation and others say “Abraham learned that…”; Speiser has “word reached Abraham, as follows:….” We may also say “Abraham received word” or “Abraham found out.” Another way of translating this verse is to say “Some time after this Abraham received news of his brother Nahor, that his wife….”

Behold: Good News Translation and others do not attempt to represent this element. It probably has the function of calling for attention before an important statement. It is possible to express this in the way Abraham is addressed, if a direct quotation is used; for example, “Listen to this, Abraham,” “Here is some news, Abraham.”

What Abraham learned is placed in quotes by Revised Standard Version, from Behold in this verse to after Bethuel at the end of verse 22. Good News Translation and others do not use quote marks. This list names eight sons from Milcah and four from Nahor’s concubine, thus making a total of twelve. This is the same number born to Ishmael (25.12-16) and to Jacob (35.22b-26).

Milcah: according to 11.29 Milcah is Nahor’s wife and niece. In some translations that refer to Reumah in verse 24 as a “second wife,” Milcah is called Nahor’s “first wife” here.

Also has borne children: also may compare Milcah to Sarah in 21.1-7, who bore Abraham a child. Children in the Hebrew and in this context refers to “sons.”

Your brother refers to Abraham’s brother. Good News Translation and others avoid a direct quotation and say “his brother.” The eight names in verses 21 and 22 may be introduced as in Good News Translation, “Milcah had borne eight children….” This means introducing information from verse 23 in verse 20, and then repeating it in its original location in verse 23, if one follows the pattern of Good News Translation.

In some languages it is more natural with news of this nature for the husband and wife to be named together, giving the translation “Abraham heard news that his brother Nahor and his [brother’s] wife Milcah they-two had had eight sons.”

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 .