Abraham

The name that is transliterated as “Abraham” in English is translated in virtually all sign languages, including American Sign Language with the sign signifying “hold back arm” (referring to Genesis 22:12).


“Abraham” in American Sign Language (source )

In Tira it is transliterated as Abaram. The choice of this, rather than the widely-known “Ibrahim,” as used in the Tira translation of the Qu’ran, was to offset it against the Muslim transliteration which originates from Arabic. (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

Click or tap here to see two short video clips about Abraham (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also our ancestor Abraham and Abram.

happiness / joy

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.

Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions, rejoiced greatly / celebrated, the Mossi translation of “righteous”, and joy.

complete verse (John 8:56)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 8:56:

  • Uma: “As for your ancestor Abraham, he is glad because he knew that he would see the day of my coming. So now, he has seen my coming and he is very glad.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Your grandfather Ibrahim was glad because he knew that there was a time in the future when he would see me come into the world. Then when he saw my coming, he was glad.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Your ancestor Abraham, he was very glad long ago because he knew that I would be sent here to the world. The reason he was glad is because he was expecting me.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Great was the happiness of Abraham your ancestor, because he expected he would see my coming here, and truly it was shown to him and he was-happy.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “You father Abraham was able to be happy when he knew that he would see the day of my coming here. He really saw it, that’s why he was able to be happy.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Your ancestor Abraham was glad that the day would come when I would arrive here. He knew about and therefore was glad.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal pronoun: Jesus addressing his disciples and common people

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Tuvan uses a formal vs. informal 2nd person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Unlike other languages that have this feature, however, the translators of the Tuvan Bible have attempted to be very consistent in using the different forms of address in every case a 2nd person pronoun has to be used in the translation of the biblical text.

As Voinov shows in Pronominal Theology in Translating the Gospels (in: The Bible Translator 2002, p. 210ff.), the choice to use either of the pronouns many times involved theological judgment. While the formal pronoun can signal personal distance or a social/power distance between the speaker and addressee, the informal pronoun can indicate familiarity or social/power equality between speaker and addressee.

Here, Jesus is addressing his disciples, individuals and/or crowds with the formal pronoun, showing respect.

In most Dutch translations, Jesus addresses his disciples and common people with the informal pronoun, whereas they address him with the formal form.

Translation commentary on John 8:56

The verb translated rejoiced is a strong verb; it appears only here and in 5.35 in John’s Gospel. In 5.35 the phrase is literally “to rejoice in his light,” and Good News Translation translates it to enjoy his light.

That he was to see the time of my coming gives the reason for Abraham’s rejoicing. The time of my coming (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “my coming”) is literally “my day,” which is the rendering used by most translations. This expression, however, is either meaningless or misleading in many languages, and translators are therefore advised to follow Good News Translation.

He saw it may be rendered “he saw that event” or “he foresaw my coming.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .