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.

Translation commentary on Sirach 44:19

Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations: New English Bible provides an acceptable rendering that is very similar, saying “Great Abraham was the father of many nations.” The Handbook slightly prefers Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, but translators may choose.

And no one has been found like him in glory: This is the reading of the Greek manuscripts and Rahlfs’ text. Ziegler’s text reads “No stain was ever found on his glory.” This reconstructs a Greek text on the basis of the Hebrew. The difference in Greek between these two texts is small, especially since the word him does not appear in some manuscripts. Good News Translation reads the Hebrew, and translators who wish may follow it. Most translators, however, will want to stay with the Greek here, and follow Revised Standard Version. We could say “No one has ever been more highly esteemed,” “People have never esteemed [or, honored] a person more highly,” or even “No one is more famous than Abraham.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.