Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English is translated in virtually all sign languages, including American Sign Language with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language 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).

Even at the time of his translation, Jerome likely was not the only one making that decision as this recent article alludes to.

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

See also Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 7:106

For the double verse numbering in Revised Standard Version and some other versions, see the comments on verse 36.

I answered and said is better rendered “Then I asked” or “I replied,” since Ezra responds to Uriel by asking more questions.

How then do we find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for our fathers who sinned in the desert…?: This question continues to the end of verse 110 in the Latin text and Revised Standard Version. In many languages it will be better to break it into several sentences (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). How then may be rendered “Why, then.” Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom refers to Gen 18.23-33, and Moses for our fathers who sinned in the desert to Exo 32.11-14. The verb “prayed” (Good News Bible) is implied here from the previous verse. After him, that is, after Moses, may be rendered “Later” (Good News Bible). The phrase in the days of Achan makes it sound like Achan was a ruler, which of course he was not. This phrase may be translated “when Achan was alive.” Joshua prayed for the Israelites because Achan’s disobedience brought the threat of punishment on them all. A possible model for this clause is “Later, why did Joshua pray for the people of Israel because of what Achan did?”

And Samuel in the days of Saul: See 1 Sam 7.9. Good News Bible makes explicit that Samuel “prayed for them [the Israelites].” The phrase in the days of Saul appears to be original (see Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible footnotes). It may be rendered “when Saul was king” or “when Saul ruled over Israel.”

And David for the plague: See 2 Sam 24.14-25. Plague may be translated “epidemic” (Good News Bible). Contemporary English Version renders this clause as “just as David did [prayed] for those who were dying from a horrible disease.”

And Solomon for those in the sanctuary: See 1 Kgs 8.22-53. Those in the sanctuary refers to the Israelites worshiping at the Temple when it was dedicated.

Here is an alternative model for verse 108:

• Why did Samuel pray for them when Saul was king? Why did David pray about the epidemic [or, for those dying from a terrible disease]? Why did Solomon pray for the people worshiping at the Temple?

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.