Esau

The name that is transliterated as “Esau” in English means “covered with hair,” “hairy.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “hairy forearm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm, Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Esau” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

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 hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 32:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 32:4:

  • Kankanaey: “He instructed them saying, ‘Tell to my older-sibling that this is what Jacob who serves him who is his master is-causing-to-be-reported. Tell (him) also that I have-been-staying-with plural Laban until now because I have been delayed for-a-long-time there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He send them, saying to them –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He instructed them what they would-say to Esau. Jacob said, ‘You (sing.) tell Esau that I stayed there with Laban and I have- not -been-able-to-go-home yet until now.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He told them, ‘This is what I want you to say to Esau: ‘I, Jacob, want to be your servant and I want you to be my master. I have been living with our uncle Laban, and I have stayed there until now.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with high register (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person. In these verses, however, the more venerable anata-sama (あなた様) is used, which combines anata with the with a formal title -sama.

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

See also formal 2nd person pronoun (Spanish) and the formal vs. the informal pronoun in the Gospels in Tuvan.

Translation commentary on Genesis 32:4

Instructing them: Revised Standard Version runs verses 3 and 4 together, but translators may find that a new sentence is required with Gen 32.4. Instructing here means “directing,” “ordering,” “telling.” We may also translate the beginning of verse 4 as in Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “He gave them this message:…” or “He told them to say to Esau:….”

Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: since a written message is not employed, the messenger is to repeat exactly the words spoken by the sender of the message. Note the form the message has in Good News Translation. We may translate, for example, “These are the words you will say to…” or “Here is what you are to say to….”

My lord translates ʾadoni, as in Rachel’s address to her father in 31.35. Jacob uses my lord as an address form to his brother in Gen 32.5. Since this quote is used as introductory to the messengers and not to Esau, it may be necessary in translation to make this clear. For example, “I want you to give my lord Esau this message” or “I am going to tell you now what I want you to say to my lord Esau.”

Thus says your servant Jacob: these are the words the messengers are to speak to Esau. In some languages it may be confusing for Jacob to speak of himself in the third person. In that case we may sometimes say “I am your servant, Jacob” or “I am Jacob and I am your slave.” We may put together Jacob’s instructions to his messengers and the opening statement as follows: “Say these words to my lord Esau: ‘I am Jacob who serves you’ ”; or “… ‘I am Jacob, your slave.’ ” A translation that uses indirect speech in this context says “Tell this word to Esau. Tell him that I, Jacob, am his servant. I call him boss.”

I have sojourned with Laban: for sojourned see 12.10.

For stayed until now see Good News Translation. We may also say, for example, “I am only now returning home” or “After all this time I am now coming home.” In some translations sojourned … and stayed until now is expressed as “I have stayed a long time with Laban and now I am coming back.”

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 .

respectful form of "say/speak" (mōsu)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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, mōsu (申す), the respectful form of iu (言う) or “say / speak” is used. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )