brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), both “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


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

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

See also Moses and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

Translation commentary on Exod 7:2

This verse explains the purpose of verse 1. The channel of communication will be from God to the Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron. You shall speak means that Moses is to speak to Aaron, that is, he will “tell Aaron” what to say. All that I command you means that God will give specific commands to Moses, and then Moses in turn will “repeat” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) them to Aaron. And Aaron … shall tell Pharaoh completes the chain of communication.

In the Hebrew to let the people of Israel go is literally “and he will let go the sons of Israel.” Because of the “and,” a few translations interpret this as the result of the negotiations with the king, not as what Aaron is to say to him. New English Bible, for example, has “… he will tell Pharaoh, and Pharaoh will let the Israelites go….” Similarly Translator’s Old Testament has “Then Pharaoh will let the Israelites leave his land.” But this interpretation ignores what is said in both the preceding and the following verses. Most translations therefore interpret it as a summary of all the commands that will be communicated to the Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron.

Pharaoh is a title for “the king” of Egypt. The people of Israel were “the Israelites,” and go out of his land means “leave his country,” that is, Egypt.

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 .