Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English means “taken out of the water,” “saved out of the water,” “a son.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 ). See also Translation commentary on Exodus 2:10.

It is translated in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language with a sign in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here ).

In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:


“Moses” in French Sign Language (source )

The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).

In Swiss-German Sign Language (and Hungarian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).


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

In Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Korean Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the arms held up by Moses to assure the Israelites victory over the Amalekites (see Exodus 17:11).


“Moses” in Korean Sign Language, source: Korean Sign Language Bible House

In Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff. )


“Moses” in Estonian Sign Language, source: Glossary of the EKNK Toompea kogudus

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: Moses .

Translation commentary on Joshua 22:6 - 22:8

Good News Translation has rearranged verses 6-8 in a more orderly manner; for the way in which the material appears in Hebrew, see Revised Standard Version. Notice that verse 6a is repeated in the last part of verse 7, and verse 6b is taken up again in verse 9a.

The information about how Moses had assigned territory east of the Jordan to one half of Manasseh and land west of the Jordan was assigned by Joshua to the other half is quite redundant in the context of the whole book. As it stands in the text, the command in verse 8 (see Revised Standard Version) appears to be directed to the men of East Manasseh alone (so Bright), but it is reasonable to assume that it applies to the two other eastern tribes as well (so Good News Translation; see also New English Bible, New American Bible).

If the command is understood to be directed to the men of East Manasseh alone, then it would seem advisable to retain the order of the text essentially as it appears in the Hebrew. The last part of verse 7 would then be “Now as Joshua sent the men of East Manasseh home with his blessing, 8 he said to them….” If the order of Good News Translation is retained, it may be helpful to translate with his blessing as part of the direct quotation: “6-8 Before the men started home Joshua said to them, ‘May the LORD continue to bless your lives. You are going back….’ ” Or, “6-8 … ‘May the LORD (continue to) be with you….’ ”

The command to share with their fellow Israelites the loot taken from enemies is in keeping with ancient Israelite practice (see Num 31.27; 1 Sam 30.21-25).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 22:7

22:7a

The information in verse 22:7a–c is background information. The Hebrew conjunction that begins this sentence is usually translated “and.” Some translations translate it as “now” because this is a way to introduce background information in English. Some English versions including the Berean Standard Bible indicate this by putting the sentence in parentheses. Translate this Hebrew conjunction in a way that is natural in your language and shows that what follows is background information.

To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan: The author reminds the reader of information from chapter 1:12-15 and chapter 17:1-13. Moses had given land to half of the clan of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan River, but the other half of the people of the Manasseh clan received land on the west side of the river.

To the half-tribe of Manasseh: The phrase To the half-tribe of Manasseh is put at the beginning of the sentence in Hebrew to emphasize it. Use a word order that is natural in your language.

had given land: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had given land is more literally “Moses had given.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word land to make the meaning clear in English.

in Bashan: Bashan was a region that was east of the Jordan River.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Moses had given land to the half-clan of Manasseh in the region of Bashan ⌊east of the Jordan River⌋
-or-
One half of the clan of Manasseh had received land from Moses. That land was in the region of Bashan ⌊on the east side of the Jordan River⌋

22:7b

and: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and indicates a contrast. It is a contrast between the two locations of land that the clan of Manasseh received.

and to the other half: The phrase the other half refers to the other half of the clan of Manasseh.

Joshua gave land: The Hebrew clause is more literally “Joshua had given.” The Berean Standard Bible has added the word land to make the meaning clear in English.

on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers: The phrase among their brothers indicates that half of the Manasseh clan’s land was next to the land that the other clans received on the west side of the Jordan River. The word brothers refers to the other Israelite clans.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

But Joshua had given land to the other half of the clan of Manasseh. That land was on the west side of the Jordan River, next to the land the other clans had received.
-or-
But the other half of the clan of Manasseh received land from Joshua on the west side of the Jordan River, along with their relatives.

22:7c

When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them: This part of the verse restates the information found in 22:6.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

As Joshua sent them on their way home he blessed them
-or-
When Joshua told them to go home he blessed them

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