The Book of Jubilees

Jubilees (also known as Lesser Genesis, Leptogenesis, or the Book of Division) is canonical scripture for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The only complete copies of Jubilees are available in Ge’ez (Classical Ethiopic), here used with permission by the Bible Society of Ethiopia.

The translation into English used here: Jubilees: The Hermeneia Translation. Translated by James C. VanderKam. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2020. with editorial alterations and additional translations to match the current text of the Tewahedo church by Masahiro Kubota.

bear child / give birth

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)

See also in childbirth / travail and birth.

Cain

The name that is transliterated as “Cain” in English means “possession,” “acquisition,” “fabrication.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is transliterated as Kaḭ in Ngambay. In a translatory coincidence Kaḭ is very similar to the Ngambay word kain or “to flee” which is what Cain does according to Genesis 4:14. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In the Protestant tradition of Mandarin Chinese it is transliterated as Gāiyǐn (该隐) which can be understood as “should hide” or “should be hidden.” (Source: Zetzsche)

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “bad.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

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 Abel and Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him (image).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Cain .

Enoch

The name that is transliterated as “Enoch” in English means “initiated,” “initiating,” “teacher,” “dedicated,” “consecrated.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “taken away” (referring to Genesis 5:24). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Enoch” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “disappear.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

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: Enoch .