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 Numbers 12:4

And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam: The word suddenly is specified in the Hebrew text; it is as if the LORD were right there on the scene listening to the preceding conversation. Rashbam, the Jewish medieval commentator, noted that suddenly means “immediately” (so also New Living Translation, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling) in this context. By saying to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, Revised Standard Version groups Aaron and Miriam separately from Moses, but the Hebrew does not do so here. The Hebrew has “to Moses and to Aaron and to Miriam,” which is equivalent to saying “to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam” (Good News Translation). The LORD addresses the three as a group, which is brought out by what he says to them.

Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting: The Hebrew verb rendered Come out does not imply leaving the main camp of the Israelites, since the Tabernacle was in the middle of the camp. So it may be better to say “come over” or simply “come” (New Century Version). For the tent of meeting, see 1.1.

And the three of them came out: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam went to the Tabernacle as the LORD requested. New International Readers Version says simply “So they did.”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .