Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 23:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:19:

  • Kankanaey: “Then he buried (her) in the cave that was in the land that he had bought from the Heteo who resided there. That land, it was at Makpela near to Mamre (which is part/territory of Hebron just the same),” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah in the cave of Machpelah in the land of Canaan near Mamre.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Abraham buried Sara there in the cave which is there at the field at Macpela, which (is) under-the-jurisdiction of the land of Canaan. Macpela is near Mamre which is Hebron.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After that, Abraham buried his wife Sarah’s body in the cave in the field in the Machpelah area near Mamre, which is now called Hebron city, in the Canaan region.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 23:19

After this: this refers to the purchase of the burial place, and we may need to make this clear with something like “After Abraham had bought the land,” “As soon as the burial place had been bought.”

Buried Sarah his wife climaxes the entire episode of chapter 23. The rest of this verse is repetition. Note that Good News Translation says “in that cave in the land of Canaan” and thus avoids the repetition of the Hebrew text. However, most modern translations keep field of Mach-pelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron).

Not all translations include (that is, Hebron), which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project calls a gloss, something added to the text by copyists. Nevertheless (that is, Hebron) is found in all ancient text witnesses, and so Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends keeping it. Translations that do not use parentheses often say “that is also called Hebron.”

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 .