Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

complete verse (1 Chronicles 1:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 1:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “Canaan produced his firstborn who was called Sidon and Heth followed him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Canaan was the father of Sidon, he [Sidon] was Canaan’s firstborn son. Canaan was the father of the Hittites,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Canaan was the father of Sidon and Het. Sidon was the oldest.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 1:13

Canaan was the father of Sidon his first-born: See Gen 10.15. Canaan was introduced in verse 8 as one of Ham’s sons. Sidon was the ancestor of the people who lived in the Phoenician city of Sidon on the northeast Mediterranean coast. Perhaps Sidon is used here more widely to refer to Phoenicia rather than to the city of Sidon. Sidon was the first-born son of Canaan. The Hebrew word translated first-born is from the same root as “first fruits” of a harvest. In modern English it is more naturally translated “oldest [son]” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version), “eldest son” (Revised English Bible), or “first child” (New Century Version). Other languages may have their own special terms for the first child born into a family.

The descendants of Heth lived in the area of Hebron, in the hill country south of Jerusalem (see Gen 23). The descendants of Heth are also called “Hittites,” and some versions use that designation here (so New Living Translation, New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .