defile

The Hebrew that is translated as “defile” or similar in English is translated in Zaramo as “bring shame.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

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 34:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:27:

  • Newari: “Jacob’s other sons came and plundered the city. In this way they took revenge for their sister’s disgrace.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Afterwards, the other children of Jacob also went-inside the city and took its possessions. They did this because the character/[lit. being/person] of their sister Dinawas-defiled/[lit. made-dirty].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the other sons of Jacob went into the city where all those dead bodies were. They looted/took everything in the city to get revenge for the shameful thing that had been done to their sister.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:27

The actions described in this verse took place after the killing in verse 26 was over. A transition may be required in some languages to indicate this; for example, “After Simeon and Levi had killed all the men of the town, …” or “When all those men were dead….” Good News Translation has “After the slaughter…,” which makes a good transition; but this expression appears to be its translation of upon the slain, since it makes no further reference to the dead bodies.

The sons of Jacob came upon the slain: the only sons of Jacob that entered the city to kill the men were Simeon and Levi. It is therefore hardly normal to say that the same two sons who killed all of these men of Shechem now came upon the slain, and so this is taken to refer to the “other sons.” Many translations, including New Revised Standard Version, say “Jacob’s other sons.” “Other sons” is found in some of the ancient versions.

If no other transition is used, this clause may need to be restructured as a “when” clause; for example, “When the other sons of Jacob came to the dead bodies….” The slain refers to the dead men, the ones killed by Simeon and Levi. The Hebrew word is related to a verb meaning to pierce or puncture. These bodies had been pierced, run through by swords.

Came upon may suggest in English that they found the dead bodies unexpectedly. However, the Hebrew means only that they came to the bodies, without indicating whether they knew the bodies were there or not. Came upon is sometimes used in the sense of hostility against someone, and this sense is possible here. There is also another similar idiom, “fly upon” (1 Sam 14.32), which has the sense of looting, and that can well be the meaning in this context.

Plundered means to carry away their possessions by force. Other English words with a similar sense are “sack,” “loot,” and “pillage.”

Because their sister had been defiled: the narrator inserts the reason for their violent behavior. Good News Translation and other versions express this as an act of “reprisal” or “revenge”; and this will be understood as a natural motive in many places. Two typical translations are “to pay back their bad behavior to Dinah” and “… they punished them for the big shame….”

For defiled see verse 5.

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 .