brothers

“Brothers” has to be translated into Naro as “younger brothers and older brothers” (Tsáá qõea xu hẽé / naka tsáá kíí). All brothers are included this way, also because of the kind of plural that has been used. (Source: Gerrit van Steenbergen)

This also must be more clearly defined in Yucateco as older or younger (suku’un or Iits’in), but here there are both older and younger brothers. Yucateco does have a more general word for close relative, family member. (Source: Robert Bascom)

brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

Simeon

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Simeon” or “Simon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “swords,” referring to the traditional Jewish symbol for the tribe. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Simeon” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information under Tribe of Simeon .

Levi

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Levi” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies a menorah referring to the temple service of the tribe of the Levites. The same sign is also used for the tribe. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Levi” or “Levite” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

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 Levite, Levi and the Tribe of Levi .

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 34:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:25:

  • Newari: “Three days later when the pain of being circumcised had not yet gone, two sons of Jacob, Dinah’s elder brothers Simeon and Levi, took their swords, without anyone knowing, and went into the city and killed all the men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After three days, while the men were- still -in-great-pain, the two sons of Jacob who (were) Simeon and Levi, the siblings/(brothers) of Dina, went-into/[lit. enter] the city. The people there did- not -know that their purpose (was) in-fact/[surprise particle] bad. They brought a sword/(swords) and they killed all the men.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “On the third day after that, when the men of the city were still sore because of being circumcised, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and entered the city without anyone opposing them, and killed all the men.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:25

On the third day, when they were sore: this assumes that all the males were circumcised on the same day. Note Good News Translation “Three days later.” We may also say, for example, “Three days after they had been circumcised.” For discussion of they see verse 24. The pain or soreness is due to swelling where the foreskin of the penis has been removed. As Kidner comments, “Crudely performed, circumcision could be quite incapacitating, particularly after two or three days.”

Two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi: these are the second and third sons respectively of Leah and full brothers of Dinah. Nothing is said regarding Reuben, the oldest brother.

Took their swords: swords is used in 3.24 and 27.40. In contrast with those verses, here the focus is on the sword as a weapon for killing people. In languages in which this instrument is unknown, it may be possible to use a borrowed term, an equivalent local term, or to shift to a more general level and say “took their weapons.”

Came upon the city unawares: unawares, which means “without being noticed,” “without the people being aware that they were there,” is literally “in security.” Some understand that it is the city that is dwelling securely (BDB). However, if the city were secure, the attackers would not have succeeded. Most modern versions interpret “in security” to refer to the manner in which the brothers invaded the city, namely, “unopposed,” “without any resistance.” See Good News Translation “without arousing suspicion.” Examples of other translations are “went into the town in a quiet way” and “walked right inside the town and nobody prevented them.”

Killed all the males: see the discussion concerning who is circumcised and who is killed in verse 24. Aside from the soreness of the recently circumcised men, the narrator is not concerned to explain how two men could carry out such a massacre.

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 .