Isaac's well (image)

Hand colored stencil print on washi by Sadao Watanabe (1977).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Isaac

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”):


“Isaac” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Isaac .

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

complete verse (Genesis 26:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 26:18:

  • Kankanaey: “Isaac again dug-out the water-fetching-places that his father Abraham had dug in his time and the Filisteo had filled-in at his death. He named (them) what Abraham had named them just the same.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Isaac again dug the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham and which the Philistines filled up after Abraham died. And he gave the wells the same names that Abraham had given them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He caused-to-be-dug again the wells of his father Abraham that the Filistinhon filled-in after Abraham died. Isaac named the wells with the same name that Abraham had-given (them) before back-then.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “There were several wells in that area that had been dug when Isaac’s father Abraham was living, but Philistine people had filled them up with dirt after Abraham died. Now Isaac and his servants removed the dirt, and Isaac gave the wells the same names that his father had given to them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 26:18

This story focuses upon these events in the life of Isaac as a patriarch and so legitimizes his descendants’ claim to these wells.

And Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father: Isaac dug may give the impression in some languages that Isaac alone did the digging. If that is the case, it may be necessary to say, for example, “Isaac had his men dig,” “Isaac ordered his men to dig.” Dug again means he reopened or restored the wells that had been filled in. Which had been dug … is translated by Revised Standard Version as a passive. The Hebrew has an active construction with a plural subject “they,” meaning Abraham and his men.

In the days of, which is the Hebrew text, is “the servants of” in some of the ancient versions, and so Bible de Jérusalem translates “which the servants of his father Abraham had dug.” “The servants of” occurs in the Hebrew text of verse 15 but not here in verse 18. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project regards the Hebrew in the days of as an {A} reading, and therefore this should be followed by translators. This expression means “when Abraham was alive.”

For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: this information highlights the conflict over water that began in Abraham’s time. By closing wells it was possible to force herders to leave the area. For the wording of this clause see verse 15.

And he gave them the names which his father had given them: he is Isaac. It was common practice to give names to water wells or springs that recalled something of their history or the personal experience of their founder. We may translate, for example, “Isaac gave these wells the same names his father had given them” or “Isaac called them by the same names his father Abraham had called them.”

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 .