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 23:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 23:2:

  • Kankanaey: “she died at Hebron in the region of Canaan, and Abraham mourned-for her.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “[she] died in a place in Canaan called Kiriath-arba (nowdays called Hebron). Abraham mourned her death.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “She died there at Kiriat Arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourned greatly when Sarah died.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “she died at Kiriath-Arba town, which is now called Hebron, in the Canaan region. After Abraham mourned for her,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 23:2

And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan: Kiriath-arba means “City of four” and is found elsewhere in 35.27; Neh 11.25. It is regularly used for Hebron in Josh 15.13, 54; 20.7; 21.11, and is said in Josh 14.15 and Judges 1.10 to have been the older name for Hebron. Good News Translation and others translate it “Hebron.” Speiser says “Kiriath-arba—now Hebron.” Revised English Bible have “Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron.” Unless there is a reason to retain the ancient name, translators are advised to use “Hebron.” Land of Canaan is often called “the area [region, country] called Canaan.”

Went in to mourn for Sarah: went in in this context may refer to going inside the tent where her body was kept. Moffatt says “after going indoors.” Went in, however, may signal that Abraham performed or carried out the rites of mourning, or, as Bible en français courant says, “Abraham celebrated the mourning….” Note Good News Translation “Abraham mourned her death.”

Mourn and weep are understood as two verbs in which the second describes the action of the first; that is, “he wept in mourning,” or more generally “he mourned.” Mourning rites involved wailing or weeping, as seen in 2 Sam 1.12; 3.31-32; 1 Kgs 13.30; Zech 12.10-12. A common way of expressing Abraham’s mourning is “Abraham cried very much for some time when Sarah died.” In translation it is important that the description of mourning represent biblical practice. It may be appropriate to say in a footnote, for example, “This is equivalent to the custom called…,” in which a local mourning custom is referred to.

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 .