The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Manasseh” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “bull” referring to Deuteronomy 33:17. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
The sons of Joseph according to their families: Manasseh and Ephraim: This verse introduces the paragraphs on the descendants of Joseph, that is, the tribes of Manasseh (verses 29-34) and Ephraim (verses 35-37). These tribes are in reverse order to 1.32-35, perhaps to reflect the inversion of the population numbers in this second generation (so Cole, page 456). The two paragraphs on Manasseh and Ephraim are rounded off (inclusio) with another reference to Joseph, their common ancestor, at the end of verse 37. As mentioned in the comments on verses 5-7, the Hebrew word for families (mishpachah) is better rendered “clans” (New Revised Standard Version). In some languages it may be awkward to mention Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, directly after the reference to clans. Good News Translation omits the idea of clans for this reason, but it is better to keep it by rearranging the verse; for example, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling says:
• Sons of Joseph: Manasseh and Ephraim. Different [or, Separate] clans descended from both.
Another possible model is:
• Sons of Joseph: Manasseh and Ephraim. These are their clans:….
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 .
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