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).
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)
The term that is transliterated as “Hagar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter H and “escaped,” referring to Genesis 21:14. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Hagar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines “Egypt” and “servant,” referring to the fact that Hagar was a slave from Egypt (see Genesis 16:1). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The term that is transliterated as “Ishmael” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter I and the sign signifying “stubborn” (also similar to “donkey”), referring to Genesis 16:12. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Ishmael” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts shooting bow and arrow, referring to the fact that Ishmael was skilled with his bow (see Genesis 21:20). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:12:
Newari: “Here is the list of the descendants of Ishmael, son of Abraham which which he had from Hagar, the Egyptian maid servant of Sarah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “This is the story about the family of Ishmael the child of Abraham with Hagar the Egiptohanon, the servant of Sara.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “These are/I will now give a list of the descendants of Abraham’s son, Ishmael, to whom Sarah’s female slave, Hagar from Egypt, had given birth.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
These are the descendants of Ishmael translates “These are the toledoth of Ishmael.” The Hebrew word toledoth was first used in 2.4. See there for discussion. Here the word means “genealogy” or “list of descendants.” See also “Translating Genesis,” page 1.
Abraham’s son … bore to Abraham: the narrator makes a special point to identify Ishmael as Abraham’s son born to Sarah’s maid Hagar, who is an Egyptian. Revised Standard Version preserves the Hebrew order of these phrases, which are clear enough in English but lacking in descriptive style. Note how Good News Translation has marked them as a parenthetical clause. In some languages it will be clearer to restructure these into two short sentences. For example, we may say “Ishmael was Abraham’s son. His mother was Sarah’s Egyptian maid.”
Since the expression These are the descendants of Ishmael is repeated in verses 13 and 16, it may not be necessary or advisable to include this information in verse 12.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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