Rebekah

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)


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

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

More information on Rebecca .

Jacob

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)


“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 )

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 “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

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 Jacob and hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 27:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 27:15:

  • Kankanaey: “Then Rebeka got Esau’s best clothes that he/she had stored in the house and she gave (them) to Jacob so-that he would put-them-on.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then bringing the best clothes of Esau which was in the house, Jacob put them on.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then she took the best clothes of Esau which (were) there in the house and had- Jacob -wear-(them).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s clothes that were with her in the tent, and she put them on her younger son Jacob.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 27:15

Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son: garments translates a general word for clothing and probably included Esau’s robe and sandals. In Hebrew the word rendered best refers to the special clothes that Esau would wear on occasions when people wear their best clothing, “his best suit of clothes,” as we may say.

Which were with her in the house: that is, “which were kept in her house” or “which Esau kept in his mother’s house.” In some languages this information should be given before the first clause, since it refers to a situation that began much earlier: “Esau’s good clothes were in the house with Rebekah; so Rebekah got them and….”

And put them on Jacob her younger son: it may be necessary to begin a new sentence here; for example, “She put them on her younger son Jacob.” The meaning is not that she dressed Jacob as if he were a small child. The Hebrew verb translated “put … on” is in the causative form and so has the sense “She had Jacob put them on” or “She made Jacob dress in 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 .