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 )

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 8:33

In verses 33-35 of this section the people are evidently assembled in Shechem Valley, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. They are all there, including the resident aliens (Good News Translation the foreigners among them; Revised Standard Version “sojourner”).

Three groups of leaders are specifically named (Revised Standard Version): “the elders” (see verses 7.6 and 8.10); “the officers” (see verse 1.10 and 3.2); and “the judges.” It is difficult to distinguish precisely among them. The officers probably had military responsibilities (see 1.10), and the judges were responsible for judicial matters; but the precise role of the leaders (Revised Standard Version “the elders”) is not clear.

The people stand in two groups, facing each other, with the Covenant Box and the priests in between. The priests stand at either end of the LORD’s Covenant Box, which was carried by means of poles which went through the rings on the sides of the Box (see Exo 37.3-5). In Good News Translation the geographical relationship between the people and the levitical priests is less than clear, if facing is understood to mean that the people and the priests faced each other. How can the people stand on two sides of the Covenant Box and at the same time face the levitical priests who carried it? A few minor adjustments in the order of presentation results in a somewhat more simplified arrangement:

• The Israelites stood in two groups and faced the Covenant Box, which was placed between them. Their leaders, officers, judges, and the foreigners who lived among them stood in these two groups with them. One group of Israelites stood with their backs to Mount Gerizim, while the other group stood with their backs to Mount Ebal. The levitical priests who carried the Covenant Box took their places on each side of it.

The levitical priests is a rather unusual phrase, since it seems to imply that there were also nonlevitical priests. As a matter of fact all priests were Levites (that is, of the tribe of Levi), but not all Levites were priests (see comments on 3.3). The ritual proceeds according to the instructions recorded in Deuteronomy 27.11-13.

At the end of this verse the Hebrew text has “at the first”; it is not clear what this modifies. Good News Translation takes it to modify the time when Moses issued the command: Moses had commanded; similarly Revised Standard Version “as Moses … had commanded at the first” (so Jerusalem Bible); following the cue of Revised Standard Version, it may be translated “according to the instructions which Moses had given.” Bright takes it to go with the action of blessing: “that they should bless the people of Israel first of all,” that is, before the reading of the blessings and curses (verse 34). New English Bible is similar, translating “that the blessing should be pronounced first” (also Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); New American Bible “for the blessing of the people of Israel on this first occasion.” Everything considered, it would seem that the interpretation of New English Bible, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible is to be preferred; the opening words of verse 34 “And afterward” (Revised Standard Version) seem to support this interpretation.

In verse 31 Moses was referred to as the Lord’s Servant; therefore it may not be necessary so soon to refer to him again as the LORD’s servant Moses. The verse is otherwise complicated, and some of the difficulties may be lessened if he is referred to merely as “Moses.” If the exegesis of Good News Translation is followed concerning the phrase “at the first,” one may then translate “Moses had told them to stand this way so that the priests could pronounce God’s blessing on the people.” Or, if the interpretation of New English Bible is pursued, “Moses had told them to stand this way, and have the priests pronounce God’s blessings upon them before Joshua read the Law of Moses to them.”

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 8:33

8:33a

The Hebrew connector that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but many English versions translate as “and” indicates the next event of the story.

All Israel, foreigners and citizens alike: The phrase All Israel indicates that every Israelite was present at the ceremony.

foreigners and citizens alike: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foreigners refers to foreigners who lived in the Israelite community.

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as citizens refers to Israelites who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Here are some other ways to translate these two words:

resident foreigners and native Israelites (NET Bible)
-or-
aliens and citizens (New International Version)
-or-
foreigners and native-born (New Living Translation (2004))

with their elders, officers, and judges: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as elders refers to the leaders of tribes and families who represented their tribe on special occasions.

officers: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as officers refers to people who had both military and administrative responsibilities.

Here are some other ways to translate this term:

leaders (NET Bible)
-or-
officials (New International Version)

judges: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judges refers to people who judged disputes between Israelites. See Exodus 18:17-26 where Moses first appointed judges.

8:33b

stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD: The clause stood on both sides of the ark indicates that the Israelites stood in two groups facing each other. The ark was in-between them.

the ark of the covenant of the LORD: The ark was a wooden box that was a sign of God’s presence. The term ark has different descriptive phrases attached to it in different contexts. In this verse it is called ark of the covenant of the LORD. This emphasizes that inside it were the stone tablets on which Moses wrote the Ten commandments, the symbol of Yahweh’s covenant with Israel.

facing the Levitical priests: Two Levitical priests stood at each end of the ark, carrying it on poles over their shoulders. The two groups of Israelites faced the ark and the priests who carried it.

Levitical priests: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Levitical priests is literally “the priests, the Levites.” The priests were descendants of Levi, and belonged to the tribe of Levi.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the priests, the Levites
-or-
the priests of the Levi tribe

It is also possible to say just “the priests,” and put the literal translation in a footnote. See how you translated this term in Joshua 3:3.

priests: The priests were people who offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. You should translate this the same way you do in the New Testament. See, for example, Mark 1:44.

8:33c

who carried it: It was the responsibility of the priests to carry the ark of the covenant.

8:33d

Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal: The phrase half of them indicates that the Israelites were divided into two large groups.

in front of Mount Gerizim and…in front of Mount Ebal: The Israelites stood in the Valley of Shechem, which was between the two mountains, Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. One group stood facing Mount Gerizim and the other group stood facing Mount Ebal.

In Deuteronomy 27:12–13 Moses told the people to stand “on” Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, whereas this verse uses the words in front of. Because the Israelites followed the commands that Moses gave them, it may be that they stood on the slopes of the two mountains, facing in the direction of the opposite mountain. For example:

on the upper slopes of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (New Jerusalem Bible)

8:33e

as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier: This indicates that the Israelites obeyed the instructions that Moses gave them before he died.

earlier: The word earlier refers to the time when Moses gave the Israelites this command in Deuteronomy 27:12–13. For example:

the Lord ’s servant Moses had earlier commanded the people (New Century Version)

General Comment on 8:33

This is a long and complicated verse, and you will have to think about it carefully. It is recommended that you begin a new sentence at 8:33d.

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