dual vs. plural (Acts 7:16)

In this episode in Acts 7:16 it is ambiguous whether only Jacob and Joseph or Jacob and all of the other patriarchs were taken back to Shechem. In languages that distinguish between a dual and a plural this ambiguity has to be resolved. In the translation into Kahua only two bodies were taken back because Joseph’s body is specifically mentioned in Exodus 13:19 and Joshua 24:32.

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 .

Hamor

The name that is transliterated as “Hamor” in English means “ass / donkey.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts “circumcision” (see the story starting with Genesis 34:13) and U as a replacement for the initial H. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Hamor” in Libras (source )

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

Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “lentil,” referring to the soup he gave his brother in exchange for his birthright (see Genesis 25:34). Note that another Spanish Sign Language sign for Jacob also users the sign for Jewish. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In German Sign Language it is a sign that shows the touching of the hip, described in Genesis 32:25:


“Jacob” in German Sign Language (source: Taub und katholisch )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “smooth arm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Jacob” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign signifying Jacob grabbing the heel of Esau during their birth (referring to Genesis 25:26). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia )


“Jacob” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

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 Esau.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jacob .

complete verse (Joshua 24:32)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 24:32:

  • Kupsabiny: “The bones of Joseph which the people of Israel had brought from the country of Egypt were buried in the/a field in Shechem. That field belonged to the descendants of Joseph and Jacob bought that field from the sons of Hamor who was the father of Shechem for hundred silvers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The Israelites buried the bones of Joseph that they had brought from the land of Egypt at Shechem. That land Jacob had bought for a hundred silver pieces from the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem. This land became the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The bones of Jose that were-brought by the Israelinhon from Egipto were-buried in Shekem, on the land which Jacob had-bought with 100 silver pieces from the child/(son) of Hamor the father of Shekem. This land (is) part of the territory which was-given to the descendants of Jose.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joseph’s bones, which the Israeli people had brought with them from Egypt, were also buried at Shechem. The people buried them in the piece of land that Jacob had bought long ago for 100 pieces of silver from Hamor, the father of Shechem. That piece of land was in the area that was given to the people who were descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 24:32

Finally the body of Joseph (Hebrew “bones of Joseph”) is given permanent burial (see Gen 50.25-26; Exo 13.19). For the purchase of the field of Jacob, see Genesis 33.18-20. The sons of Hamor should probably be “the descendant of Hamor,” as in Genesis 33.19. It is not known exactly how much the hundred pieces of silver would be worth in modern currency.

Which the people of Israel had brought from Egypt is chronologically prior to The body of Joseph … was buried at Shechem. Moreover, the piece of land that Jacob had bought comes first in the historical sequence of events. It is possible (1) to translate so that all three events fall in chronological sequence or (2) to place only the first two in chronological sequence with the mention of the purchase of the field as a flashback, as Good News Translation has done. If all three events are placed in chronological sequence, the following will serve as a pattern:

• Many years ago the Israelites’ ancestor Jacob had bought a piece of land from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He had paid them a hundred pieces of silver for this land. When the people of Israel left Egypt, they brought the body of their ancestor Joseph with them. They had carried it with them all this while, and now they buried it in that piece of land that Jacob had bought at Shechem.

The last part of the verse in the Masoretic text is “they were (or, became) for the sons (or, descendants) of Joseph an inheritance.” Most translations (An American Translation, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, New American Bible) understand that the piece of land is being referred to; but New English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, and Hebrew Old Testament Text Project take the plural to refer to “the bones of Joseph” (New English Bible “and they passed into the patrimony of the house of Joseph”). This seems strange but appears to be what the Masoretic text says. The singular “it was (or, became)” should be considered a textual change, based on the Syriac andVulgate texts.

If the exegesis of Good News Translation is maintained, This land was inherited by Joseph’s descendants may be translated, “Joseph’s descendants received this land as their own.” If the alternative interpretation is accepted, “Joseph’s descendants received these bones as their possession.”

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 24:32

24:32a

And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem: In Genesis 50:25 Joseph had made the Israelites promise to bring his bones with them when they left Egypt.

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

The people of Israel had brought Joseph’s bones with them when they left Egypt. They buried them at the town of Shechem.
-or-
The Israelites buried Joseph’s bones at Shechem town. They had brought the bones with them when they came out of Egypt.

24:32b

in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pieces of silver is found in only two other places in the Old Testament: Genesis 33:19 and Job 42:11. It was an ancient weight, but it is not certain how heavy it was.

Avoid using the word “coins.” Coins had not been invented at this time. They used pieces of silver in a wedge shape with a standard weight.

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

Jacob had bought a plot of land there from the sons of Hamor, who was Shechem’s father. Jacob had paid one hundred pieces of silver for it.
-or-

⌊They buried them⌋ in the plot of land that Jacob had bought for one hundred silver pieces from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

24:32c

So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

That land was in the area that belonged to the descendants of Joseph.
-or-
Joseph’s descendants now own that land.

General Comment on verse 24:32

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse so that they are in chronological order. For example:

⌊Many years ago⌋ Jacob had bought a piece of land from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver. When the Israelites left Egypt they carried Joseph’s bones with them. ⌊Now, years later,⌋ they buried his bones in that piece of land that Jacob had bought in Shechem.

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