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 .

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen. 33:12)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai and Adamawa Fulfulde translators selected the inclusive form (including Jacob).

complete verse (Genesis 33:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 33:12:

  • Newari: “Then Esau said — ‘Now let’s go, I will also go with you.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Esau said, ‘Hurry now, let- us (incl.) -go. Let- us (incl.) just -go-together now.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Esau said, ‘Let’s continue traveling together, and I will show the road to you.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 33:12

Let us journey on our way: Esau seems to assume that they will travel together. The common form of these words in many languages is “Let us go.” Us is the inclusive first person pronoun, plural or dual; “You and me.” Although no destination is named, from verse 14 it is clear that Esau’s place in Seir is meant.

I will go before you: this expression may mean “ahead of” or “alongside of.” In either case Esau’s proposal is to accompany Jacob, not to go a long distance in advance of him. Esau too now has a herd of at least five hundred animals to drive. See 32.13-15.

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 .