Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

grain

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated in English as “grain” (or: “corn”) is translated in Kui as “(unthreshed) rice.” Helen Evans (in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 40ff. ) explains: “Padddy [unthreshed rice] is the main crop of the country and rice the staple diet of the people, besides which [grain] is unknown and there is no word for it, and it seemed to us that paddy and rice in the mind of the Kui people stood for all that corn meant to the Jews.” “Paddy” is also the translation in Pa’o Karen (source: Gordon Luce in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 153f. ).

Other translations include: “wheat” (Teutila Cuicatec), “corn” (Lalana Chinantec), “things to eat” (Morelos Nahuatl), “grass corn” (wheat) (Chichimeca-Jonaz) (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “millet” (Lambya) (source: project-specific notes in Paratext), “food” (Nyamwezi) (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)or ntimumma lujia / “seeds for food” (Lokạạ — “since Lokạạ does not have specific terms for maize and rice that can be described as grains”) (source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Joseph

The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Joseph” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Joseph .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (Genesis 47:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 47:14:

  • Kankanaey: “As for Jose, he gathered all the money in Egipto and Canaan that they used-to-buy food and he took-it to the palace of the king.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “All the people of the lands of Egypt and Canaan having bought grain, [and] having collected all the money [they] paid, Joseph brought it and put it in Pharaoh’s house.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jose gathered/collected all the money that those who-came-from-Egipto and those who-came-from Canaan paid for the food that they bought, and he brought this to the palace of the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joseph collected all the money that the people in Egypt and Canaan paid for the grain they were buying from him, and he brought the money to the king’s palace.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 47:14

Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in … Canaan in 41.55-56 the famine appears to have been limited to Egypt, but in 41.57 it is “over all the earth,” or “everywhere.” Here in verses 13-14 it is in Egypt and Canaan. According to 41.56 Joseph sold grain from the beginning of the famine. By now the people’s money is coming to an end. Gathered up all the money means that by selling grain Joseph got all the money. In translation it will be clearer to say, for example, “The people of Egypt and Canaan spent all their money to buy grain,” “All the money of the people in Egypt and Canaan was used up buying grain,” or “Those people spent all their money buying grain.” See Good News Translation.

Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house: the idea is that he deposited the money with the king’s treasury, which was an important part of the administration and referred to in ancient times in Egyptian inscriptions as “The house of silver.” Revised English Bible say “and put it in Pharaoh’s treasury.” Most others say “… in Pharaoh’s palace.” Both are suitable renderings.

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 .