eat (Genesis 25)

The Hebrew that is translated as “eat” in English is translated in Nyamwezi as nchoyangi’zye or “eat ravenously” (“chow down”). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

lentils

Scholars are agreed that the Hebrew word ‘adashah refers to the lentil Lens culinaris (formerly known as Lens esculenta). The Arabic word ‘adas, as well as several references in post-biblical Hebrew, confirm this identification, as does the Greek Septuagint. Seeds found in excavations dating to the sixth or seventh millennium B.C. show that the lentil is one of the first species to be cultivated by humans. In those excavations lentils are often found together with seeds of wheat and barley.

The lentil is a low-branched plant with a weak stem. It has tendrils, like pumpkins and squashes, and pinkish flowers that develop into a pod like a bean. The pod is very short with only one seed inside, about the size of a small pea. In one type of lentil the pea is reddish brown, hence the reference to “red” stew in Genesis 25:30. The pods are often in pairs or sets of three. In the Holy Land lentils grow in the cold season (November-March).

In Ezekiel 4:9 the strange bread, made from six kinds of grains and legumes including lentils, was probably intended to show that food would become scarce and that the people would have to eat whatever they could find. The lentil is typically used in soups and stews, as it was when Jacob used it to trick his brother Esau into giving up his rights as the firstborn son. Lentils were among the foodstuffs brought to David by local people when he was pursued by Absalom.

 Lentils are now widespread in Asia, India, and North Africa. In places where they are not known, we suggest using the word for a local type of bean rather than a transliteration. However, in Ezekiel 4:9 “beans” are also mentioned, so a possible rendering for “beans and lentils” is “different kinds of beans.” In Genesis 25:34 a generic expression for “pottage of lentils” would be appropriate, such as “bean soup,” “bean stew,” or “vegetable soup.” If a transliteration from a major language is desired, consider Arabic adas; French cristallin, lentille; Spanish lenteja; Portuguese lentilha; and Swahili adesi.

3 types of lentil, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

drink

In Telugu different verbs for humans drinking (tāgu / తాగు) and animals drinking (cēḍu / చేడు) are required.

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 .

Esau

The name that is transliterated as “Esau” in English means “covered with hair,” “hairy.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language it is translated 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

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 hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 25:34)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:34:

  • Kankanaey: “And then Jacob gave (him) some bread and some of that red vegetable-viand. He ate, then he got-up and left. That’s how Esau caused-to-be-mocked/belittled the authority/right that ought-to-have-been his as firstborn.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Jacob gave bread and lentil broth to Esau. Having eaten Esau went his way.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Jacob gave him bread and soup. After he ate and drank, he then walked-away. In that-which Esau did, he abandoned/rejected his rights as the older-one.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Jacob gave to Esau some bread and some stew made of lentils/beans. Esau ate and drank, and then he got up and left. By doing that, Esau showed that he was not interested in/did not value the privileges that would be his because of being the firstborn son.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 25:34

Jacob keeps his word by giving Esau a meal with bread and pottage of lentils; lentils are small lens-shaped peas that have been grown since prehistoric times in biblical lands. Lentils are referred to elsewhere only in 2 Sam 17.28; 23.11; and Ezek 4.9. In the translation of bread and pottage of lentils where neither of these foods is known or eaten, the translator may borrow words from a major language in the area or, more suitably, substitute local foods that are eaten together at a meal.

He ate and drank may need to be expressed as a subordinate clause; for example, “When Esau had finished eating and drinking….”

Rose and went his way: the narrator pictures the lighthearted Esau as unmindful of what he has done. We may say in English “He just got up and walked away.”

The story concludes by expressing a feeling of disdain for Esau: Thus Esau despised his birthright. Despised is used here in the sense of careless indifference or disregard. For Esau the birthright is a worthless object. Revised English Bible translates “Esau showed by this how little he valued his birthright,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Esau … left, without attaching any importance to his rights as oldest son.” These and Good News Translation are satisfactory translation models.

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 .