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.

complete verse (Luke 16:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:23:

  • Noongar: “He went to hell. There he had great pain. He looked up and far off, he saw Abraham and Lazarus beside him.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “In the dwelling-place of the dead, he continually suffered. When he looked up from there, he saw (emphatic) very far away, there was Abraham, with Lazarus sitting beside him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “There in the afterworld the rich man had great pain. He looked up and he saw there in the distance Ibrahim. He also saw Lasarus at the side of Ibrahim.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he was carried to the place of the dead, and there he was in great torment; and when he looked up, he could see Abraham, but at a great distance. And he saw also Lazarus there near Abraham.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and he went to Hades the place of the dead. There he was excessively hardshipped. Then he looked-up and saw Abraham far-away and Lazarus beside him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Through what that rich person was experiencing which was hardship/suffering there in that punishment fire which has no dying down, he saw far away Abraham and Lazaro together.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 16:23

Exegesis:

kai en tō hadē ‘and in Hades,’ going with all verbs of v. 23.

eparas tous opthalmous autou ‘raising his eyes,’ preparing the way for hora, etc. Cf. also on 6.20.

huparchōn en basanois ‘being in torment,’ parenthetical insertion, describing his situation in Hades. huparchōn is equivalent to ōn.

basanos (also v. 28) ‘torment,’ ‘torture.’

hora Abraam apo makrothen ‘he saw Abraham far away,’ yet within hearing distance.

kai Lazaron en tois kolpois autou ‘and Lazarus at his bosom,’ dependent upon hora.

Translation:

Being in torment, or, ‘while/where he was in torment, or, underwent suffering, or, suffered great pain.’ For ‘to torment’ cf. 8.28.

Far off here sometimes best taken with ‘Abraham,’ e.g. ‘saw Abr. who was far away (from him).’

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.