brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), both “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

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 .

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 .

complete verse (Genesis 28:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 28:5:

  • Newari: “So Isaac sent Jacob to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, [who was the] elder brother of Rebekah, [who was the] mother of Jacob and Esau.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Isaac sent Jacob to Padan Aram, in the place of Laban the child of Betuel the Arameanhon. Laban was the sibling/(brother) of Rebeka the mother of Jacob and Esau.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-Aram, to live with Rebekah’s brother Laban, the son of Bethuel, who belonged to the Aram people-group.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 28:5

Thus Isaac sent Jacob away: Thus translates the common Hebrew connective, which serves to conclude the instructions and blessing given to Jacob. We may translate with a word marking a conclusion or a subsequent action such as “After that,” “Then.” Sent is used in the sense of “dismiss,” “made Jacob go.” However, Isaac is not doing this in anger, and the word for sent should not reflect any negative feelings on Isaac’s part.

And he went: the translation went in Revised Standard Version and other versions apparently summarizes the whole of Jacob’s journey. However, there is a fuller description of happenings on the journey in 28.10–29.14, and the transition from the end of verse 5 to verse 10 may raise problems for some translators. See the comments on verse 10 for a fuller discussion. A number of translations modify the form of the verb went in dealing with the transition to the resumption of the story line in verse 10; one approach, for example, is to say “Isaac sent Jacob off to go to Mesopotamia, to Laban….” In one other translation the words “and he [Isaac] sent him off” conclude the paragraph that began at verse 1, and then the rest of verse 5 makes a separate paragraph beginning “Then Jacob left in order to go to the country of Mesopotamia, to stay with Laban.”

To Paddan-aram to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean: Jacob’s destination is upper Mesopotamia (see 25.20) and the family of Laban. Because of the identification of Rebekah’s brother and father, it may be necessary to rearrange verse 5 to say, for example, “Then Isaac sent Jacob off on his trip. He went to Laban in Mesopotamia. Laban was the son of Bethuel the Aramean, and the brother of Esau’s and Jacob’s mother.” For Aramean see 10.22 and 25.20.

The journey from southern Canaan to Haran in upper Mesopotamia is a distance of approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles). See 24.10-11.

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 .