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, 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 34:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 34:5:

  • Newari: “Jacob learned that Shechem had harmed his daughter Dinah. Since all his sons were out tending sheep, he remained silent.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jacob came-to-know that Shekem had-defiled/[lit. had-made-dirty] the character/[lit. being-person] of Dina, he just did nothing at-first for his sons (were) still there in the field watching his animals.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob very soon found out that his daughter Dinah had been disgraced/defiled. But his sons were in the fields with his livestock, so he did nothing about it until they returned home.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 34:5

Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah: Now is used by Revised Standard Version to shift the scene to Jacob. Some say “When Jacob learned….” Good News Translation begins a new paragraph. Heard may need to be rendered as “learned” or “found out.” He refers to Shechem. Defiled normally means to become or to make ritually unclean. Defilement could be caused by doing many forbidden acts in the Old Testament. In the sexual realm a man could become defiled by having sex with a menstruating woman, with his neighbor’s wife, with another man, or with an animal (Lev 18.19-23). In verses 5, 13, and 27 the term defiled is probably used on two levels of meaning. The more obvious is “dishonored,” “violated,” “disgraced.” At a deeper level the term is no doubt used because Dinah was forced to have sex with an uncircumcised Canaanite. In translation it is sufficient to express the dishonor or disgrace committed against her. A common translation that uses a euphemism (an expression that avoids the direct words) for sexual misconduct is “Jacob got the news that Shechem had made trouble for [or, with] his daughter.”

But his sons were with his cattle in the field is the reason Jacob says nothing about this matter. In some languages it will be more natural to express the reason first; for example, “Jacob’s sons were in the field caring for the livestock, and so he held his peace until they came home.” Cattle refers to livestock generally. Field refers to the open country where the animals were taken to graze.

Held his peace translates the Hebrew “kept silent.” We may also translate, for example, “so Jacob said nothing about it.” A number of translations make this refer to action in general rather than just speaking; for example, “He didn’t do anything straight away, because… He just waited for them to come home.”

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 .