make love

The Hebrew in Genesis 29:21 that is translated as “make love” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “talk with,” referring to sleeping with someone. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, 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 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign signifying Jacob grabbing the heel of Esau during their birth (referring to Genesis 25:26). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia )


“Jacob” in Hungarian 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 29:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 29:21:

  • Kankanaey: “Afterwards then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me your (sing.) child so-that I will take- her -into-my-home-as-wife, because the years that we (dual) agreed on are finished.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he said to Laban — ‘My time is finished. Now give me your daughter.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After the seven years, Jacob said to Laban, ‘My service to you (sing.) is- now -finished, so give Raquel to me now so-that we (excl.) will- now -be-together-(as-husband-and-wife).'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After the seven years were ended, Jacob said to Laban, ‘Let me marry Rachel now, because the time we agreed upon for me to work for you is ended, and I want to marry her.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

respectful form of "give" (kudasaru)

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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 of lexical honorific forms, i.e., completely different words, as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, kudasaru (下さる), a respectful form of kureru (くれる) or “give” is used.

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

See also respectful form of “give” (tamawaru) and give (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Genesis 29:21

From this point in the story, Jacob enters into a new relationship with Laban. While Laban remains his uncle, he is now Jacob’s father-in-law; and in many cultures this new relationship overrides all other relationships. In some languages there is a special form of address that a man is required to use when speaking with his father-in-law, and that must be used from this point on. Likewise Laban must use the appropriate form of address for a son-in-law when addressing Jacob. In some languages this also extends to the way a narrator tells a story, so that, for example, the narrator will not say “Jacob said to Laban” but “Jacob said to his father-in-law.”

Give me my wife that I may go in to her: Jacob refers to Rachel as my wife, although the marriage celebration has not yet taken place. In some languages the same term is used for a woman who is formally engaged or betrothed to a man, as for a woman who is actually married. However, in other languages it will be more acceptable to say “Give me your daughter.” Go in to her refers to having sex; however, in this context it is better expressed as “marry her.” We may translate “Give me your daughter to be my wife,” “Let me marry your daughter.”

For my time is completed: Jacob refers to the end of the seven-year work contract. Translators may find it better to place this information at the beginning of the verse; for example, “My seven years are finished, so let me marry your daughter” or “I have worked for you for seven years. Give me my woman so I can marry her.”

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 .