Moses

The name that is transliterated as “Moses” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and Polish Sign Language in accordance with the depiction of Moses in the famous statue by Michelangelo (see here ). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Moses” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

American Sign Language also uses the sign depicting the horns but also has a number of alternative signs (see here).

In French Sign Language, a similar sign is used, but it is interpreted as “radiance” (see below) and it culminates in a sign for “10,” signifying the 10 commandments:


“Moses” in French Sign Language (source )

The horns that are visible in Michelangelo’s statue are based on a passage in the Latin Vulgate translation (and many Catholic Bible translations that were translated through the 1950ies with that version as the source text). Jerome, the translator, had worked from a Hebrew text without the niqquds, the diacritical marks that signify the vowels in Hebrew and had interpreted the term קרו (k-r-n) in Exodus 34:29 as קֶ֫רֶן — keren “horned,” rather than קָרַו — karan “radiance” (describing the radiance of Moses’ head as he descends from Mount Sinai).

Even at the time of his translation, Jerome likely was not the only one making that decision as this recent article alludes to.

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting holding a staff. This refers to a number of times where Moses’s staff is used in the context of miracles, including the parting of the sea (see Exodus 14:16), striking of the rock for water (see Exodus 17:5 and following), or the battle with Amalek (see Exodus 17:9 and following).


“Moses” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)

See also Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration.

Translation commentary on Joshua 1:5

Now the Lord speaks directly to Joshua again, promising him victory in all his undertakings. Good News Translation introduces Joshua as a noun of address, to indicate that he is the one to whom the Lord is now speaking. For languages which possess both singular and plural forms of “you,” the shift will be obvious without specific mention of the name. In such instances one may translate “No enemy will be able to stand against you (singular).”

Will (not) be able to defeat translates the verb “hold one’s ground, oppose, withstand.”

In Hebrew you (in all of its occurrences in the verse) is singular and refers to Joshua. The Greek Old Testament translators rendered the first occurrence as a plural form, thereby referring it to the people of Israel. However, the focus throughout the verse is upon Joshua as he assumes the role of leadership from Moses, and in languages where distinctions exist, a singular form should be used in translation.

The Lord promises to help Joshua as he did Moses, and tells him he will not forsake or abandon him. The Hebrew uses two synonymous verbs, “to fail, let go,” and “to abandon, forsake”; Good News Translation uses two expressions, negative and positive: I will always be with you; I will never abandon you. In some languages it may be more effective not to have the repetition of verbs. That is, one may use either “I will always be with you” or “I will never abandon you,” but not both. This is especially true in cultures where the accumulation of synonyms tends to weaken rather than to strengthen an affirmation.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .