make love

The Hebrew that is translated as “make love” or similar in English is translated in Mwera as “talk with,” referring to sleeping with someone. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

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 29:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 29:21:

  • Kankanaey: “Afterwards then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me your (sing.) child so-that I will take- her -into-my-home-as-wife, because the years that we (dual) agreed on are finished.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he said to Laban — ‘My time is finished. Now give me your daughter.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After the seven years, Jacob said to Laban, ‘My service to you (sing.) is- now -finished, so give Raquel to me now so-that we (excl.) will- now -be-together-(as-husband-and-wife).'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “After the seven years were ended, Jacob said to Laban, ‘Let me marry Rachel now, because the time we agreed upon for me to work for you is ended, and I want to marry her.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 29:21

From this point in the story, Jacob enters into a new relationship with Laban. While Laban remains his uncle, he is now Jacob’s father-in-law; and in many cultures this new relationship overrides all other relationships. In some languages there is a special form of address that a man is required to use when speaking with his father-in-law, and that must be used from this point on. Likewise Laban must use the appropriate form of address for a son-in-law when addressing Jacob. In some languages this also extends to the way a narrator tells a story, so that, for example, the narrator will not say “Jacob said to Laban” but “Jacob said to his father-in-law.”

Give me my wife that I may go in to her: Jacob refers to Rachel as my wife, although the marriage celebration has not yet taken place. In some languages the same term is used for a woman who is formally engaged or betrothed to a man, as for a woman who is actually married. However, in other languages it will be more acceptable to say “Give me your daughter.” Go in to her refers to having sex; however, in this context it is better expressed as “marry her.” We may translate “Give me your daughter to be my wife,” “Let me marry your daughter.”

For my time is completed: Jacob refers to the end of the seven-year work contract. Translators may find it better to place this information at the beginning of the verse; for example, “My seven years are finished, so let me marry your daughter” or “I have worked for you for seven years. Give me my woman so I can marry her.”

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 .