sell

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)

See also buy and buying / selling.

Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, 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)


“Jacob” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is a sign that shows the touching of the hip, described in Genesis 32:25:


“Jacob” in German Sign Language (source: Taub und katholisch )

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)


“Jacob” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign signifying Jacob grabbing the heel of Esau during their birth (referring to Genesis 25:26). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia )


“Jacob” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

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

See also Esau.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jacob .

complete verse (Genesis 25:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:31:

  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon Jacob said, ‘First turn-over to me your (sing.) authority/right as firstborn, then I will give- you (sing.) -some.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Jacob said — ‘First give me your first [born] rights of the big son.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But Jacob replied, ‘I will-give you this if you will-give me your rights as older-one.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob said, ‘I will give you some if you sell me your birthright/the privileges you have because you are the firstborn son.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (utte)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, utte (売って) or “sell” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 25:31

First sell me your birthright is literally “sell me as today your birthright.” Jacob pressures Esau to give up his birthright immediately before he will consent to give him some of the food he has cooked. The word sell may be inappropriate in cases where it means only the exchange of goods for money. Some languages will prefer a word meaning “barter,” “trade,” or “give.” Bible en français courant has a word meaning “yield, give up, surrender.” Speiser says “give me in exchange.” Birthright refers to the right of the firstborn to inherit from the father twice as much as the younger brother or brothers will inherit.

In languages in which the idea of birthright (primogeniture) is unknown, it may be necessary to use a descriptive phrase such as “the right to inherit most of our father’s wealth” or “the rights held by the oldest brother.” Two examples from Pacific translations are “If you promise me that you will no longer do the things you have a right to do because you are the firstborn, and you agree that I will do those things, then I will…” and “First you must give me that rank of yours as the oldest son, and after that I will….” In one other language the birthright is expressed as “your place as second to our father, because you are the firstborn son.” If a short phrase like “oldest brother’s rights” is used, it may be necessary to explain that phrase in a footnote.

Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides a suitable model for some translators: “Jacob answered: ‘You will get it only when you surrender your birthright to me on the spot [here and now].’ ”

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 .