Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “lentil,” referring to the soup he gave his brother in exchange for his birthright (see Genesis 25:34). Note that another Spanish Sign Language sign for Jacob also users the sign for Jewish. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In German Sign Language it is a sign that shows the touching of the hip, described in Genesis 32:25:


“Jacob” in German Sign Language (source: Taub und katholisch )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “smooth arm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Jacob” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

See also Esau.

complete verse (Genesis 25:34)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:34:

  • Kankanaey: “And then Jacob gave (him) some bread and some of that red vegetable-viand. He ate, then he got-up and left. That’s how Esau caused-to-be-mocked/belittled the authority/right that ought-to-have-been his as firstborn.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Jacob gave bread and lentil broth to Esau. Having eaten Esau went his way.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Jacob gave him bread and soup. After he ate and drank, he then walked-away. In that-which Esau did, he abandoned/rejected his rights as the older-one.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Jacob gave to Esau some bread and some stew made of lentils/beans. Esau ate and drank, and then he got up and left. By doing that, Esau showed that he was not interested in/did not value the privileges that would be his because of being the firstborn son.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 25:34

Jacob keeps his word by giving Esau a meal with bread and pottage of lentils; lentils are small lens-shaped peas that have been grown since prehistoric times in biblical lands. For a description see Fauna and Flora of the Bible, page 134|fig:ffb_Lentil.htm. Lentils are referred to elsewhere only in 2 Sam 17.28; 23.11; and Ezek 4.9. In the translation of bread and pottage of lentils where neither of these foods is known or eaten, the translator may borrow words from a major language in the area or, more suitably, substitute local foods that are eaten together at a meal.

He ate and drank may need to be expressed as a subordinate clause; for example, “When Esau had finished eating and drinking….”

Rose and went his way: the narrator pictures the lighthearted Esau as unmindful of what he has done. We may say in English “He just got up and walked away.”

The story concludes by expressing a feeling of disdain for Esau: Thus Esau despised his birthright. Despised is used here in the sense of careless indifference or disregard. For Esau the birthright is a worthless object. Revised English Bible translates “Esau showed by this how little he valued his birthright,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Esau … left, without attaching any importance to his rights as oldest son.” These and Good News Translation are satisfactory translation models.

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 .