Ishmael

The term that is transliterated as “Ishmael” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter I and the sign signifying “stubborn” (also similar to “donkey”), referring to Genesis 16:12. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts shooting bow and arrow, referring to the fact that Ishmael was skilled with his bow (see Genesis 21:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

More information on Ishmael .

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

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 28:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 28:9:

  • Newari: “So, going to his father’s younger brother, Ishmael’s place, he married his daughter, Mahalath, [who was] the younger sister of Nebaioth, in addition to the wives he already had.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore he went-to his uncle Ishmael the child of Abraham with Hagar. Aside from his two wives, he also married Mahalat the child of Ishmael and sibling of Nebayot.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Because of that, Esau went to see his uncle Ishmael, and married Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael. Mahalath was the sister of Nabaioth and the granddaughter of Abraham.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 28:9

Esau went to Ishmael and took to wife: as a result of his parents’ dislike of the Canaanite women, Esau tries to improve relations with them by marrying one of his cousins. To bring out the link with the previous verse, some translations begin “So he went….” Went to Ishmael means “went where Ishmael lived” or “went where Ishmael was.” Some translations say “went to visit Ishmael.” In this context Ishmael may also be taken to mean “Ishmael and his family” or “the clan of Ishmael.” Took to wife means “married a woman.”

Besides the wives he had is placed at the end of the Hebrew sentence. Good News Translation does not represent this phrase in its translation. As it has been clearly said that Esau had other wives (26.34), it will probably be sufficient to say here “he married another woman” or “he took yet another wife.” One translation that follows the Hebrew order concludes the verse by saying, after the name and relationships of the woman, “and she became Esau’s third wife.”

Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth: Mahalath is identified as the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth. Furthermore Ishmael is identified as Abraham’s son. For a model wording of these relationships, see Good News Translation. Since Nebaioth is named in 25.13 as the “first-born of Ishmael,” it will be necessary in some languages to say “younger sister of Nebaioth.”

In some languages there is too much information in verse 9 for a natural sentence. A model translation from one of these languages says “So he went to the clan of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, and married another wife, whose name was Mahalath. This woman was the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.”

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 .