The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Rachel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies the eyelashes, referring to “beautiful eyes” as the opposite of Leah (see Genesis 29:17). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 35:19:
Newari: “Rachel died. She was buried beside the road going to Ephrath. Nowdays this place is called Bethlehem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Raquel died and she was-buried beside the road going-toward Efrata (which is- now -called Betlehem).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “After Rachel died, she was buried alongside the road to Ephrath, which is now called Bethlehem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
So Rachel died: So in Revised Standard Version expresses a conclusion. In some translations this is expressed in the usual way for concluding a story or episode; for example, “That was how Rachel died….” Note that Good News Translation prefers “When Rachel died….”
And she was buried on the way to Ephrath: was buried must often be expressed as an active construction: “They buried her….” On the way or “on the road” may give the impression that they buried Rachel in the road. Note Good News Translation “beside the road.” Revised English Bible have “by the side of the road.”
In this verse Ephrath is clearly identified as Bethlehem. See also 48.7. Bethlehem is no doubt a later gloss or explanation for readers to be able to identify Ephrath. This explanation would have been more appropriate in verse 16, and some translators may prefer to insert it there. In translation we may follow Good News Translation or say, for example, “now called Bethlehem” or “which is the same as Bethlehem.”
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 .
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