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 16:25)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 16:25:

  • Noongar: “But Abraham said, ‘Remember, my son, when you were alive, you had all the good things, but Lazarus had all the bad things. But now he is sits happily in this place while you have pain.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “‘Abraham said: ‘Remember, child: While you (sing.) were still living in the world, you (sing.) received/got all the good, while Lazarus (emphatic) received/got only the bad. At this time, he is comforted here, and as for you (sing.), you (sing.) receive/get suffering/difficulty.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But Ibrahim said, ‘Friend, remember that you have received already all kinds of good during your lifetime but Lasarus has received bad. But now his situation is good here, and you are suffering pain.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, Abraham answered, calling, ‘Grandchild, remember that when you were still alive, your life was filled with happiness. But as for Lazarus, his life was filled with torment, and now Lazarus is happy, and you are in torment.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘But Abraham said, ‘Remember my child that during your (sing.) lifetime, you (sing.) had all the good things that you (sing.) wanted, and as for Lazarus, it was pure hardship that he underwent. But now he is enjoying himself here and you (sing.) in-turn are the one being hardshipped there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But the reply of Abraham was, ‘Son, what you are to remember is your life while still under the heavens, that you caused yourself to have-an-abundance-of-everything. As for Lazaro here, he experienced big hardship/suffering. But today, he is being comforted here. You now are the one who is experiencing far from ordinary hardship/suffering.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 16:25

Exegesis:

teknon ‘child,’ i.e. ‘my child,’ implying that he is still considered as belonging to the people of Abraham.

mnēsthēti ‘remember,’ pointing to what he was supposed to know.

apelabes to agatha sou en tē zōē sou ‘you received to the full your good things during/in your lifetime.’ apolambanō means usually ‘to receive back,’ but here ‘to receive to the full’ (cf. apechō in 6.24). ta agatha sou does not mean ‘your possessions’ (cf. 12.18) but ‘the good things that were your share,’ ‘your share of blessings’ (cf. An American Translation).

kai Lazaros homoiōs ta kaka ‘and Lazarus likewise the bad things,’ with apelaben understood. homoiōs is best understood as corresponding to en tē zōē sou in the preceding clause.

nun de hōde parakaleitai ‘now he is being comforted here.’ nun goes with this and with the next clause and indicates the contrast with the life of Lazarus and the rich man before dying; hōde refers to the place where Abraham now is.

su de odunasai ‘and you are in agony.’

Translation:

Remember, or, ‘think again,’ ‘bring back to mind’; and cf. the note on “remembrance” in 1.54.

In your lifetime, or, ‘while you were (still) alive’ (cf. New English Bible, Balinese).

You … received your good things, or, ‘you were very greatly favoured’ (Tzeltal), ‘you saw good’ (Kituba). In Foe the verb is rendered in the far past tense, referring to yesterday and before, and in the aspect used when a speaker describes what he observed. Your good things, or, ‘your share of the good things, or, good fortune (Javanese), or, pleasure (Bahasa Indonesia RC), or, happiness (Marathi), or, joy,’ ‘whatever which good to-you’ (Trukese), ‘things that pleased you (Shona 1966), or, gave you joy.’

And Lazarus in like manner evil things, taken as the opposite of the preceding “that”-clause but in elliptical form, sometimes has to be filled out entirely, ‘but that L. in his lifetime received his evil things’ (or equivalent expressions, see above, and cf. e.g. ‘great his suffering he lived in the world,’ Tzeltal), but more often partially, only some of the corresponding terms being repeated, or rendered by a synonym, as required by idiom.

Comforted, cf. on “received … consolation” in 2.25.

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.