family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

Esau

The name that is transliterated as “Esau” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language with the signs signifying “hairy forearm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm, Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Esau” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

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 hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 36:40)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 36:40:

  • Newari: “Here are the clan leaders who were descended from their ancestor Esau, the Edomite — Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Esau (who was- also -called Edom) was the source of the Edomhon. And these were the (ones) who became leaders of the descendants of Esau which their tribes and places were-named-after them: Timna, Alva, Jetet, Oholibama, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Here is/I will now give you a list of all the people-groups that were descendants of Esau: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, Magdiel, and Iram. They all lived in the Edom region. The land where each people-group lived got the same name as the name of the people-group.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 36:40 - 36:43

By following closely the Hebrew wording, Revised Standard Version obscures the picture of this list. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, the Handbook recommends that translators restructure verses 40-43 along the lines followed by Good News Translation. Good News Translation begins by shifting Esau, the father of Edom from verse 42 to the opening of the combined verses. Because the list speaks of Esau as the father, meaning “founder” or “ancestor,” Good News Translation says “Esau was the ancestor of….” Because the names of the clans or tribes occur in three verses, Good News Translation speaks of “the following tribes,” beginning with Timna and ending with Iram. Because dwelling places occurs in both verses 40 and 43, these two occurrences are reduced to one by placing this information in the final sentence.

We may also suggest another model for translating verses 40-43:

• Here are the names of the clans of Edom: Timna … Iram. Those are the ancestors of the Edomite clans. Each one settled in a different region of their country. Esau was the ancestor of all the Edomites.

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 .