eat (Genesis 25)

The Hebrew that is translated as “eat” in English is translated in Nyamwezi as nchoyangi’zye or “eat ravenously” (“chow down”). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

red

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “red” in English is translated in Silimo with a local reference: “the colour of the red rocks used to dye nets” (source: Buzz and Myrna Maxey ).

Jacob

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “lentil,” referring to the soup he gave his brother in exchange for his birthright (see Genesis 25:34). Note that another Spanish Sign Language sign for Jacob also users the sign for Jewish. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Jacob” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is a sign that shows the touching of the hip, described in Genesis 32:25:


“Jacob” in German Sign Language (source: Taub und katholisch )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the signs signifying “smooth arm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Jacob” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

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

See also Esau.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jacob .

Esau

The name that is transliterated as “Jacob” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language and American Sign Language with the signs signifying “hairy forearm” (referring to the story starting at Genesis 27:11). (Source: Tarja Sandholm, Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

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

See also Jacob and hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 25:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 25:30:

  • Kankanaey: “so he said to Jacob, ‘Please give-me-some of that red-stuff because here it’s like I will die with my hunger.’ (Because-of that-aforementioned which Esau said, they also nicknamed him Edom.)” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘Being hungry to eat I am about to die, so give me a little of that red lentil broth.’ (So he was also called Edom.)” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He said to Jacob, ‘Please, let- me -eat of that red (stuff) you (sing.) are-cooking for I am very exceedingly hungry.’ (That is why Esau was-called Edom.)” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He said to Jacob, ‘Give me some of that red stew to eat right now, because I am very hungry!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 25:30

Let me eat some of that red pottage is literally “Let me swallow….” The narrator is depicting Esau as a greedy glutton. New Jerusalem Bible expresses the thought well with “Let me gulp down.” In some translations the feeling is expressed by “Give me that red soup of yours. Hurry!” Red pottage is literally “this red, red” (Hebrew ʾedom, a word that sounds like “Edom”).

For I am famished: Esau repeats what the narrator has said about him in verse 29. In some languages it is more natural to make this the first statement of Esau’s speech: “I’m so hungry! Give me some of that red soup.”

(Therefore his name was called Edom): Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation enclose this information between parentheses and add a footnote explaining that “Edom,” the country of the Edomites, sounds like the Hebrew word for “red.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .