anger

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The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “anger” in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied).”

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

See also God’s anger.

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 30:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 30:2:

  • Newari: “Jacob was angry with her, and said — ‘Am I God to cause you to have a child?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob became-angry with her and said to-her, ‘Why, am I God? He is the-one-who-willed that you can- not -give-birth.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, ‘I am not God!/Am I God? He is the one who has prevented you from becoming pregnant!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 30:2

Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: Jacob becomes angry because Rachel’s demand accuses Jacob of withholding children from her. The Hebrew says literally “Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel.” In some languages this thought must be expressed metaphorically; for example, “Jacob’s face grew hot” or “Jacob’s eyes became red.”

Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?: Jacob’s rhetorical question is a denial that he has the means of fulfilling her demand. If the rhetorical question is not retained, we may translate, for example, “I am not God. It is God who keeps you from having children.” See Good News Translation. It may also be possible to restructure this as a statement followed by a rhetorical question, “God is the one who won’t let you have children. Do you think I am God?”

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 .