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 31:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:25:

  • Newari: “When Laban found Jacob, he had set up his tent in the mountain of Gilead and was staying there. Laban and his affinal kin had also set up their tents there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob was-putting-up/[lit. causing-to-stand] his tent at-that-time in the mountains of Gilead when Laban caught-up-with him. And there also Laban and-company put-up their tents.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The next day, by the time Laban caught up with Jacob, Jacob and his household had set up their tents in the hilly Gilead region. So Laban and his relatives set up their tents there, too.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 31:25

And Laban overtook Jacob: this information has been given in the summary statement in verse 23. To translate as Revised Standard Version does is to repeat what was said there. If this verse is not placed before verse 24, it is better to treat the Hebrew connective as introducing a time clause, by saying “When Laban overtook Jacob….” This requires handling the next connective as introducing the main clause. In this case we may translate “When Laban overtook Jacob, Jacob had pitched his tents in….” Note that Good News Translation prefers to omit Laban overtook Jacob as redundant, since it has already been said in verse 23.

For pitched his tent see 12.8. In the Hebrew tent is singular but the sense is collective; the sense may be better expressed as “set up his camp.”

In the hill country is literally “in the hill [mountain].” The text does not name this hill or high ground. Some interpreters assume that the name has been dropped. Some think it is Mount Mizpah and others that it is Gilead. Speiser, who translates “the Height,” says “ ‘The mountain’ was used as a place name of one of the high elevations in the Gilead range.” If this is so, “the mountain” parallels the use of “the river” meaning the Euphrates river. Since there is no way of knowing for certain the name that was associated with this mountain, it is best to translate “on a mountain [or, hill],” as in Good News Translation.

And Laban with his kinsmen encamped in the hill country of Gilead: the Hebrew says literally “and Laban had pitched with his brothers….” A variant form of the text has “his tent” in place of “his brothers.” However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project regards the Hebrew as an {A} reading and assumes “his tent” is to be understood. We may, accordingly, follow either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation.

A translation that can be recommended for the whole verse is Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, which says “Laban overtook Jacob in the hills of Gilead, where Jacob had camped. Laban also camped there with his kinsmen.”

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 .