Asher

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Asher” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign for “(oak) tree” that signifies fruitfulness (referring to Genesis 49:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Asher” 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 Asher and the Tribe of Asher .

complete verse (Genesis 30:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 30:13:

  • Newari: “Then Leah said — ‘How happy I am. Women will call me happy. So she named him Asher.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Lea said, ‘I am very happy! Now the women will-call me happy.’ So she named the child Asher.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Leah said, ‘Now I am very happy, and people will call me happy.’ So she named him Asher, which means ‘happy.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 30:13

Happy am I!: see Good News Translation.

For the women will call me happy: women is literally “daughters,” or “girls,” but the reference is to women generally.

Will call me happy must often be restructured to say “Will say that I am happy now,” “Will say to each other ‘She is happy now.’ ”

So she called his name Asher: see Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes.

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 .