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 48:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 48:12:

  • Kankanaey: “Jose removed the children from his father’s knee then bent-face-down to the ground.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joseph took his sons down from Israel’s knees and bowed down falling prostrate on the ground before him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Jose removed his children from the lap of Israel and he knelt-down as a respect to his father.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joseph took the boys from alongside Jacob’s knees. Then he bowed down with his face to the ground.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 48:12

In this verse Joseph removes the two boys from Jacob and bows to the ground. From this it would appear that the blessing has been completed and Joseph bows to give thanks to his father and to God. However, according to the text as we have it, the blessing (verses 15-16) has not yet been pronounced.

Then Joseph removed them from his knees: in the Hebrew text Joseph does not place his sons on Jacob’s knees in verse 10. Whatever took place, it appears in this verse that the boys are on his knees (Good News Translation on “his lap”). The important point is that, by taking them on his knees, Jacob is recognizing Joseph’s sons as his own by adoption. See 30.3. Westermann says the Hebrew expression need not mean that the boys were literally sitting on Jacob’s knees. Driver translates the expression “from between his knees.” Some interpreters understand this expression to be an idiom meaning “from his lap.” See Good News Translation and others. See also the comments in this Handbook at 30.3.

He bowed himself with his face to the earth: see 18.2 and 19.1.

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 .