The name that is transliterated as “Isaac” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and French Sign Language with a sign that is linked to his mother’s laughter when she hears that she will be pregnant with him (referring to Genesis 18:12 – 18:15) and also is the meaning of the Hebrew “Isaac” (Yitschaq — “he laughs”):
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “sell” in English is translated in Noongar as wort-bangal or “away-barter.” Note that “buy” is translated as bangal-barranga or “get-barter.” (Source: Bardip Ruth-Ang 2020)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Rebekah” or “Rebecca” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “bracelet,” referring to the gift that she receives in Genesis 24:22. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “lentil,” referring to the soup he gave his brother in exchange for his birthright (see Genesis 25:34). Note that another Spanish Sign Language sign for Jacob also users the sign for Jewish. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “smooth arm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
The name that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language with the signs signifying “hairy forearm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm, Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Esau” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:28:
Kankanaey: “The one Isaac loved, it was Esau, because he craved what-he-hunted. Rebeka however, she loved Jacob.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Because Esau did hunting and brought meat, Isaac loved him very much. Rebekah, however, loved Jacob more.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Isaac liked Esau more because he always wanted to-eat what- Esaw -hunted, but Jacob was the one that Rebeka liked more.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Isaac liked Esau more, because he enjoyed the taste of the meat of the animals that Esau killed. But Rebekah liked Jacob more.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The contrast and conflict between the two men is now extended to include the feelings of their parents.
Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his game: loved Esau does not mean to say that he therefore did not love Jacob. The sense is that, because Isaac liked to eat wild meat, he favored Esau. New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible say “favored,” Moffatt “fond of,” Good News Translation, Bible en français courant “preferred.”
Because he ate of his game is literally “because of the game in his mouth.” Game translates a noun related to the verb meaning to hunt. It refers here to the meat obtained from killing wild animals in the hunt. This reason clause suggests a fondness for such meat on Isaac’s part. Accordingly many translations make this element clear: Good News Translation “enjoyed eating,” Bible en français courant “appreciated wild game,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “liked to eat,” Speiser “had a taste for game.” In some languages the word for meat or game depends upon the animal or type of animal that provides the meat. In this story the translator may assume that the animals hunted were some kind of deer or wild goat. New English Bible (but not Revised English Bible) has “venison,” which is deer meat.
But Rebekah loved Jacob: but signals the contrast between Rebekah’s and Isaac’s affections. The translation of loved here should be parallel to that used in respect of Isaac. This statement prepares the reader for Rebekah’s role in the deception of her husband in chapter 27.
Verses 27-28 have introduced the background for the episode that begins to unfold with verse 29.
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 .
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