Job

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Job” in English means “the persecuted,” “hated,” “one ever returning to God,” “he that weeps,” “a desert.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign for “patience,” referring to James 5:11 and many other passages within the book of Job. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “suffering.”


“Job” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that refers to the ulcers (sores) covering his body (see Job 2:7). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Job” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Job,” the second part refers to “book” (source )

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Job .

complete verse (Job 3:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 3:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “While I am still eating, I am mourning
    and I am continuously lamenting.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Since for me groaning comes instead of food to eat.
    My lament pours out like water.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I can -not – eat of too much grieving, and my groaning does- not -stop.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I continually cry very much; as a result, I cannot eat;
    and I can never stop groaning.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Job 3:24

In verses 24-26 Job, still lamenting, summarizes his feelings and gives something of a reason for them, as he did at the conclusion of the series of curses in verse 10.

For my sighing comes as my bread: the word translated as (see Revised Standard Version footnote) may also be read “before” or “instead.” Interpreters have attempted various changes in the Hebrew vowels to get clearer readings, but these have not won much acceptance. A parallel example is Psalm 42.3, “Tears are my only food.” Good News Translation restructures this expression as two verb phrases, “instead of eating, I mourn.”

And my groanings are poured out like water: by this figure of speech Job says that he groans continually, or as Good News Translation says, “I can never stop groaning.” The word translated groanings normally refers to the roaring of a lion and is used poetically here to show the intensity of Job’s mourning. In fact, the two lines are parallel, with bread and water corresponding to each other. However, the stepping up of “sighing” to “roaring” in line b and comes in line a to are poured out in line b exhibits a clear development of heightening poetic effect. In translation it will often be necessary to avoid the noun “groanings” and use a verb phrase, as Good News Translation. If these figures are not in regular use in the language, the translator should be careful not to follow what appear in English to be perfectly logical ones. It is better to translate using an equivalent figure, or to render the meaning instead of the form.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .