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

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

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 25:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:1:

  • Newari: “Abraham married another woman. Her name was Ketruah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Abraham married again, and the name of his wife was Ketura.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Some time after Sarah died, Abraham married another woman, whose name was Keturah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 25:1

Abraham took another wife: took another translates the Hebrew “added and took….” In terms of time there are two ways to understand this statement. The first is to assume that the narrator is saying that Abraham married Keturah some time after the death of Sarah. This would mean that he married her when he was more than one hundred and thirty-seven years old. (Sarah died at age one hundred and twenty-seven, and Abraham was ten years older than Sarah.) The six sons would have been born when Abraham was between the ages of one hundred and thirty-seven and one hundred and seventy-five. While this may not seem likely, the text does not rule out this possibility. The other view is that Abraham married Keturah, or took Keturah as a concubine, and had these sons at some earlier time. Verse 6 makes clear that these sons were old enough to leave home and find their own means of support while Abraham was still living.

Regardless of the time when Abraham married Keturah and had sons with her, many translators are faced with the necessity of the demands of the discourse structure in their languages and how to open this new account. A time expression such as “Then,” “After that,” “Later” may be used. In such cases the understanding will then be that Abraham married Keturah and had six sons following the events at the end of chapter 24. Even without providing a time transition to the opening of chapter 25, verse 1 in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is most likely to be understood by readers as happening after the death of Sarah. If we suggest that a suitable opener may be “After Sarah had died,” we must also suggest as another possibility “Before Sarah had died.” Since we cannot decide this matter on the basis of the text, it is best to make the opening general, as suggested above.

Another wife may mean in addition to Sarah or in addition to other wives Abraham may have had. However, only Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah are mentioned as bearing children for Abraham. Keturah is referred to here as wife in contrast to “concubine,” which is used in the parallel passage in 1 Chr 1.32. Note, however, that verse 6 refers to the “sons of his concubines,” which includes the sons of Keturah. For a discussion of “concubine” see 22.24.

Whose name was Keturah: Keturah‘s name occurs only here and in verse 4, and in 1 Chr 1.32-33. Her name may be a variant of a word referring to the smoke from a sacrifice or from incense. In some languages it is more natural to call her “Sweet smelling smoke” or “Incense.” In others it will be more natural to transliterate her name.

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 .