mandrake

The Hebrew that is translated in English typically as “mandrake” is translated in various French translations (Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Français courant, Parole de Vie) as pommes d’amour or “love apples” which indicates the function as an aphrodisiac (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin). Likewise, in a number of German translations (Luther, Gute Nachricht Bibel), Liebesäpfel with the same meaning is used. Incidentally, in both German and French the respective terms also refer to candy apples .

hire / reward

The Hebrew word play in Genesis 30:16 and 30:18 between “hire” and “reward” using the same Hebrew word could be replicated in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible since sakamako also means “hire” or “reward.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

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 30:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 30:16:

  • Newari: “That day at sundown, when he returned from the field, Leah went to him and said — ‘Today you have to sleep with me. I have hired [lit. borrowed] you with my son’s mandrake plant.’ So Jacob slept with her that day.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jacob arrived from the field at twilight, Lea went-to-meet him and said, ‘You (sing.) must lay here with me tonight, because I have- already -paid Raquel for you with the mandragora which my son brought.’ So Jacob laid-together with Lea that night.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Jacob returned from the wheat fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. She said, ‘You must sleep with me tonight, because I gave Rachel some of my son’s mandrakes that enable women to become pregnant, to pay her for allowing us to do that.’ So Jacob slept with her that night.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 30:16

When Jacob came home from the field in the evening: for field see verse 14. Evening refers to the late afternoon, sundown, the time when the workers returned from the fields.

You must come in to me: this repeats the expression for having sexual relations. See comments on 29.21. Reflecting the local situation where a man has more than one wife, one translation says “You must come and stay in my house. I have paid Rachel for you to sleep with me.”

For I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes: hired translates the verb sachar, which is related in sound to the name Issachar. This is the first time the sound association of the verb and the name occurs before the child is conceived or born. In translation it is sufficient to say “I have hired you” or “I have paid for you.”

So he lay with her: see 29.21.

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 .