Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English is translated in the vast majority of sign languages, including American Sign Language with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with a sign for that demonstrates his new destiny. Previously, he had been called to wander from his home, and the name “Abram” reflected this movement (see here). The new sign name is in one location and stays there, showing Abraham will be given a land to call his own. At this time, Abraham was in the southern part of Canaan, which is shown on the base arm by the location near the elbow. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Abraham” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Abraham .

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 )

See also Esau.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jacob .

complete verse (Genesis 35:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 35:27:

  • Newari: “Jacob came back to his father Isaac’s place. This is also called Kiriath-arba or Hebron. Abraham and Isaac had lived there, having come out [from there].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob went to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriat Arba (which is- also -called Hebron). This [linker] place where/[linker] Isaac was-living had- also -been the-place-of-dwelling of Abraham.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob had returned back home to see his father Isaac at Mamre, which is also named Kiriath-Arba, and which is now named Hebron. Isaac’s father Abraham had also lived there.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 35:27

And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron): came in this context suggests that he returned with the intention of remaining. We may say, for example, “came home,” or “came back home.” In 13.18 Mamre is at Hebron, and in 23.2 Kiriath-arba is also Hebron. In this verse the compiler is concerned to identify both Mamre and Kiriath-arba with Hebron, which was known to his readers in his day. Note that Good News Translation says “at Mamre, near Hebron.” Bible en français courant offers another model, “at Mamre, near Kiriath-Arba, which is now called Hebron.”

Hebron is about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Bethlehem and the same distance west of the Dead Sea. See the map, page 18. From Shechem to Hebron Jacob and his people have been traveling south.

Where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned: this may need to be restructured as a sentence: “This is where Abraham and Isaac had lived.” In some languages this will have to be something like “where Abraham stayed first, and where Isaac later stayed.”

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 .