The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)
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.)
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:
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).
In verses 5-7a it is noticed how the text alternates between “your ancestors” and “you” (plural) as participants in the events of the exodus and the deliverance at the Sea of Reeds (see Revised Standard Version). This is especially noticeable in verse 7. Some scholars may believe that the use of different sources accounts for these variations. But this may be also the author’s way of reminding the people of his day that they are personally related to the great redemptive event that the Lord accomplished for their ancestors in Egypt.
At the beginning of verse 5, Good News Translation has introduced Later in order to provide some sense of the lapse of time; Hebrew has simply “And I sent Moses…” (Revised Standard Version).
One may wish to introduce the persons to whom the Lord sent Moses and Aaron: “Later I sent Moses and Aaron to your ancestors in Egypt.”
And I brought great trouble on Egypt translates a Hebrew text which has some repetition: “and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it” (Revised Standard Version). Although the land of Egypt suffered under the plagues which the Lord sent, the people of Egypt are really the ones in focus. Therefore the clause may be translated, “and brought great trouble on the people of Egypt.”
The great trouble refers to the plagues.
But I led you out may require the complete form, “But I led you out of Egypt,” or even “… safely out of Egypt.”
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 .
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