complete verse (Exodus 2:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Exodus 2:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Moses later accepted to live/stay with Jethro. And from there, the old man gave Moses his daughter who was called Zipporah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Moses agreed to stay with the man. He gave his daughter Zipporah in marriage with Moses.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Moises agreed to-stay at the house of Reuel, and later-on Reuel caused- his child/(daughter) Zipora -to-be-married to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Okay, their father said for Moses to sit down with him and so Moses consented. And then their father joined Moses in marriage to one of his daughters named Sipora.” (Source: Bariai Back Translation)
  • Opo: “When Moses had gone home their, he consented that they might live with them together. And Jethro gave he his daughter who is named Zipporah as his wife.” (Source: Opo Back Translation)
  • English: “So they did, and Moses/I accepted and ate with them. And Moses/I decided to live there. Later Jethro gave him/me his daughter Zipporah to be his/my wife.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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).

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 Vietnamese (Hanoi) Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts the eye make up he would have worn as the adopted son of an Egyptian princess. (Source: The Vietnamese Sign Language translation team, VSLBT)


“Moses” in Vietnamese Sign Language, source: SooSL

In Estonian Sign Language Moses is depicted with a big beard. (Source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff. )


“Moses” in Estonian Sign Language, source: Glossary of the EKNK Toompea kogudus

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Moses .

Translation commentary on Exod 2:21

The narrative jumps to the result of Reuel’s hospitality without mentioning at least two events that are clearly implied: Moses was invited to eat with them, and he accepted. Moses was content to dwell with the man means that Moses took up residence with Reuel (Jethro) and his household. To dwell with the man may also be rendered as “to live [or, reside] with Jethro and his family.” It is not so clear just how much he had to be persuaded to dwell there. The Hebrew for was content may mean either that he “decided to live there” (Good News Translation) or that he “agreed to live there” (Good News Translation , British edition). It must be remembered that Moses was a fugitive and needed a place to stay, but the custom would have required more of an invitation than for one meal. The implication is that he was happy with the arrangement. Thus “agreed” is the more likely interpretation.

He gave Moses his daughter clearly implies marriage, and some ancient manuscripts even add the words “for a wife.” This may be made clear by adding the words “in marriage.” However, in many languages “gave … for a wife” is more natural style. Zipporah is the only daughter whose name is given. It can only be assumed that she was the oldest of the seven, for it was the custom to give the oldest daughter in marriage first.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .