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 30:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 30:29:

  • Newari: “Jacob said to him — ‘You know how I have worked here, and you also know how many cattle you already have through my care.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob said, ‘You (sing.) have-known how my service to you (sing.) (has-been) and how your livestock/[lit. animals] has-become-many because of my care.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob replied, ‘You know how I have worked for you, and you know that your livestock have increased greatly as I have taken care of them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

know (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. When the referent is God or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-zonji (ご存じ), a combination of “know” (zonji) and the honorific prefix go-.

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

Translation commentary on Genesis 30:29

Jacob’s reply begins by repeating the thoughts that have been expressed in verses 26-28.

You yourself know … you: see verse 26.

How your cattle have fared with me: cattle refers to all of Laban’s animals or flocks and not just to his cows and bulls. This statement refers to the increase in Laban’s animals and may often be translated, for example, “how much your animals have increased.” See Good News Translation. With me means in this context “since I have been here,” “under my care,” or “with me taking care of them.”

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 .