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 31:54)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:54:

  • Newari: “So, offering a sacrifice on the top of the mountain there, Jacob fed a feast to his affinal kin. After eating and drinking they slept there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob offered an animal there on the mountain, and then he called his relatives to-eat. They slept there in-the-vicinity-of/on the mountain at-night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He offered a sacrifice to God there in the hilly area, and he invited his relatives to eat with him. After they had eaten, they slept there that night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 31:54

Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain: this is the first use of the word for sacrifice in Genesis. In 8.20; 22.2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 13, we encountered the expression “burnt offering,” which referred to animals that were killed and burned up completely. In this verse the animal is killed and burned, but some of the meat is kept for eating. The sacrifice and the eating of the meat from the sacrificial animal unites Jacob and Laban, as well as their kinsmen, with God in a ritual act and so affirms and seals the agreement.

In languages that do not have a suitable expression for this kind of sacrifice, it is most often necessary to use a descriptive expression such as “slaughter an animal and burn part of it as a gift for God.” This lengthy expression may be placed in a note and a shorter form used in the translation.

Called his kinsmen … and they ate: the text his kinsmen means the relatives of Jacob, but it does not make clear who is referred to. Because of the context of making a treaty that applies to the whole passage, we take the view here that they refers to Jacob, Laban, and all their kinsmen. A translation that brings this out clearly says “Jacob killed a small goat as an offering, and he called all his relations to come and eat that meat. Jacob cooked the meat, then they all ate there beside the stones.”

And they ate bread and tarried all night: bread is often used in Hebrew as a part for the whole, with the meaning of “food” or “a meal.” The meat from the sacrifice was eaten with bread. The fuller sense of bread here is “a meal.” See Good News Translation. Tarried translates a verb meaning “to pass the night”; the same verb was used in 19.2, where Lot urged the two angels “to spend the night” at his house. See also 28.11. Eating and staying all night are not intended to be two expressions for one event but describe two separate actions. Accordingly Good News Translation is a good model: “After they had eaten….”

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 .