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 Exod 6:9

Moses spoke thus picks up the narrative again after the long speech of God which began in verse 2. Thus refers only to the quote within the quote, verses 6-8. To the people of Israel means “to the Israelites.” The entire clause is clear in Translator’s Old Testament: “Moses told the Israelites what God had said.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, and Contemporary English Version render this as a dependent clause: “When Moses told this to the Israelites, ….” (The clause in Hebrew begins with the usual conjunction waw.) Thus, or “this,” will be rendered in many languages as “these things” or “these words.”

But they did not listen to Moses means that “the Israelites” refused to accept what Moses said. The word for listen means “to hear,” but in this case it also means “to heed,” or even “to believe” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Their refusal is suggested by “they would not listen to him” (Good News Translation).

Because of their broken spirit is literally “from shortness of spirit.” This may mean that “they had become impatient” (New English Bible), or that “they were too impatient to listen” (Translator’s Old Testament). But most translations understand this expression to mean that they were discouraged (New International Version) and possibly exhausted (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). New Jerusalem Bible has “so crushed was their spirit.” In many languages this will be expressed with figurative or idiomatic expressions; for example, “their hearts [or, livers] were very low” or “they had heavy hearts.” And their cruel bondage is literally “and from hard work.” This of course refers to “their cruel slavery” (Good News Translation), or “their harsh enslavement” (Translator’s Old Testament).

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .