Rachel

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)


“Rachel” 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 Leah.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Rachel .

complete verse (Genesis 35:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 35:25:

  • Kankanaey: “Those also to-whom Bilha the slave of Raquel -gave-birth, Dan and Naftali.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From Rachel’s maid servant, Bilhah — Dan and Naphtali.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “His children with Bilha [linker] the servant of Raquel were Dan and Naftali.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The sons of Rachel’s female slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 35:23 - 35:26

The sons of: in each case the word sons is plural in Hebrew; however, in some languages the plural is not used for small numbers like two, and it is necessary to say “two sons” for all the mothers except Leah. In translation the arrangement of the mothers and sons should be in the most natural style for this kind of text. In some languages this means saying, for example:

• Leah had six sons. Their names were Reuben, who was the first of Jacob’s sons, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and the youngest Zebulun.
Rachel had two sons. Their names were Joseph and Benjamin.
Bilhah, who was Rachel’s servant, had two sons. Their names were Dan and Naphtali.
Leah’s servant Zilpah also had two sons. Their names were Gad and Asher.
All of these were Jacob’s sons, and they were born in Mesopotamia.

The last statement includes Benjamin among the sons born in Mesopotamia. However, this chapter makes clear that he was born in Canaan. Interpreters usually accept that the birth account of Benjamin in verses 16-21 is from a different tradition than the list of sons in verses 22-26.

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 .