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 27:46)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 27:46:

  • Newari: “Then Rebekah said to Isaac — ‘I feel disgusted because of the Hittite women who live here. If Jacob also marries a Hittite woman, it would be good if I would die.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Rebeka said to Isaac, ‘I am so disgusted-with my life because of these wives of Esau who are Hithanon. If the wife of Jacob will-be a Hithanon women from-here (it is) better that I will- just -die.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Rebekah also said to Isaac, ‘These foreign women whom Esau has married, who are descendants of Heth, are making my life miserable. I would prefer to die than to see Jacob marry a woman from the descendants of Heth in this area!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 27:46

I am weary of my life: weary translates a verb meaning “disgust,” “loath,” “abhor.” Speiser translates “I am disgusted with life,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I am tired of life,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “I am sick of living,” and Good News Translation “I am sick and tired.” We may also say, for example, “I can’t stand these … any longer.”

Because of the Hittite women: Hittite women is literally “daughters of Heth.” Rebekah’s disgust, as is evident from 26.35, is due not to Hittite women in general but to the wives Esau has married. Accordingly Good News Translation has translated “Esau’s foreign wives,” Bible en français courant “my Hittite daughters-in-law,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “these Hittites Esau has married.”

If Jacob marries one of … these: note that Good News Translation has supplied “also” in the “if” clause. Such as these means “like the women Esau has married” or “like the two who are here.”

One of the women of the land is literally “from the daughters of the land,” an expression that means “a local girl” or “a native woman.” The term for women should be one that is applicable to young women of marriageable age. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “one of these who live here in Canaan.”

The result clause is formulated as a rhetorical question, what good will my life be to me? which is literally “what is my life to me?” Translators may find this question needs to be answered, “No good at all,” or be expressed as a negative statement; for example, “my life won’t be worth a thing,” “my life will be worthless.” Bible en français courant translates “I will lose my last reason for living.” Note also Good News Translation.

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 .