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 14:36 - 14:37

And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land: See 13.2.

And who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him: For the Hebrew word rendered congregation (ʿedah), which is better translated “community” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), see the comments on 1.2. For murmur see verse 2.

By bringing up an evil report against the land: See 13.32, where it says “an evil report of the land.” Here the Hebrew preposition for against is added. New Revised Standard Version renders this clause well, saying “by bringing a bad report about the land.”

The men who brought up an evil report of the land: This repetition highlights the nature of the ten spies’ sin and therefore justifies the LORD’s severe punishment. The Hebrew phrase for an evil report differs from the one used in the previous verse. There only the Hebrew noun dibbah occurs, which by itself means “a discrediting report,” but here both the word dibbah and the Hebrew adjective raʿah (meaning “evil”) occur. This adjective is added for the sake of emphasis, so translators should reflect it in some way; for example, they may say “a false and evil report” (similarly Alter). This is recommended especially if translators render this whole clause only once in verses 36-37, as in Good News Translation.

Died by plague before the LORD: The Hebrew term for plague is quite general, so the translation should not be too specific. This word may be rendered “deadly disease” (Bijbel in Gewone Taal) or “killing sickness.” Good News Translation specifies the LORD as the actor in this clause by saying “the LORD struck them with a disease, and they died.” However, the Hebrew expression for before the LORD indicates that something else is needed in a translation; for example, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says that these spies died “by the will of the LORD,” and Levine has “in the presence of YHWH.” De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling is similar with “near the sanctuary,” but this rendering is more speculative (compare 3.4).

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 .