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 34:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:1:

  • Newari: “One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to meet the women who lived there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One day back-then, Dina the child [linker] young-lady/unmarried-lady of Jacob and Lea went-out. She went to the young-ladies/unmarried-ladies who (were) from-Canaan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the women in that area.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:1

The events described in this chapter show that some years have passed since the mothers and their children bowed before Esau in 33.6-7. In some languages it will be necessary to move the time aspect of the story forward. Dinah, who appeared for the first time in 30.21, has not been mentioned since she was born to Leah. In chapter 34 she is the background figure of the conflict between Jacob’s sons and the people of Shechem. She does not appear as an active character in the rape scene, nor is she ever mentioned again in the Old Testament, aside from 46.15, which gives a list of Jacob’s descendants who went to Egypt.

Now Dinah: Now is the rendering of the Hebrew connective used by various English versions to express a transition to a new episode. It has nothing to do with present time. Good News Translation “One day” is adequate to shift to a new episode; it may not be adequate, however, for languages that require a major step forward in time. Translators who find it necessary to give the story a time setting may say, for example, “When Dinah had grown up,” “Years later,” “After some years had passed.”

The daughter of Leah, whom she had born to Jacob: the identification of Dinah in relation to her parents is suitably expressed by Good News Translation as “daughter of Jacob and Leah,” which is also followed by other English versions.

Went out to visit the women of the land: went out means she went from Jacob’s camp to visit. The text does not say that she was accompanied by others, but it is unlikely that she would go alone. Likewise the text does not say that she went to the city of Shechem, but we may assume that she did from 33.18. Visit translates the common Hebrew verb “to see”; and “see the women of the town” will be the most natural way to translate in many languages. Women is literally “daughters,” which is prefixed by the preposition meaning “in,” and this construction is commonly interpreted to mean “some of the women.” These women are described as of the land, an expression meaning native or local people in 23.7, 12; 27.46. See Good News Translation, which is a good model.

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 .