Rachel

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Rachel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies the eyelashes, referring to “beautiful eyes” as the opposite of Leah (see Genesis 29:17). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Rachel” 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 .

See also Leah.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Rachel .

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 29:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 29:18:

  • Kankanaey: “Since Jacob loved Raquel, he said, ‘I will work for you (sing.) for seven years if you (sing.) give-permission that I marry Raquel.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘I will work for you for seven years for your younger daughter.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because Jacob was-in-love with Raquel, he said to Laban, ‘I will-serve you (sing.) for seven years if you (sing.) will-have- Raquel -marry me.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob was in love with/wanted very much to be married to Rachel, and he said, ‘I will work for you for seven years. That will be my payment for your letting me marry your younger daughter, Rachel.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

serve (Japanese honorifics)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “serve” or similar in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as o-tsukae (お仕え), combining “serve” (tsukae) with the respectful prefix o-.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Genesis 29:18

Jacob loved Rachel: this explains why Jacob is willing to work seven years to get Rachel for a wife. Loved Rachel must sometimes be expressed figuratively; for example, “Jacob’s heart was warm for Rachel,” “Jacob’s innermost was following Rachel,” or “Jacob’s liver turned toward Rachel.”

I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel: Jacob’s service or work under Laban takes the place of the dowry or gifts given to the bride and her family. See 24.53. Jacob makes clear that he will work for the younger daughter. Translators must decide if the repetition of younger daughter here is stylistically natural. If it is not, it can be omitted.

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 .