Isaac

The name that is transliterated as “Isaac” in English is signed in Spanish Sign Language and French Sign Language with a sign that is linked to his mother’s laughter when she hears that she will be pregnant with him (referring to Genesis 18:12 – 18:15) and also is the meaning of the Hebrew “Isaac” (Yitschaq — “he laughs”):


“Isaac” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Isaac .

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

complete verse (Genesis 26:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 26:9:

  • Kankanaey: “He had- Isaac -called and said, ‘So-surprised-realization she is your (sing.) spouse and why did you (sing.) say that she was your (sing.) younger-sibling?’ Isaac answered and said, ‘Because I thought they might kill-me on-account of her.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Summoning Isaac inside, Abimelech said — ‘Rebekah is your wife. Why are you saying she is your younger sister?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So he called Isaac and said-(to-him), ‘She (is) really your wife? Why did you (sing.) say that she was your (sing.) sister?’ Isaac replied, ‘I was-afraid that maybe you (pl.) would-kill me because of her.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said to him, ‘Now I realize that she is really your wife! So why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?’ Isaac replied to him, ‘I said that because I thought that someone here might kill me to get her.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 26:9

Called Isaac means Abimelech sent for Isaac, had someone bring Isaac to him.

Behold, she is your wife: here Behold (Hebrew hinneh) is preceded by another word often translated “Surely,” so that it introduces an affirmation, a statement based on evidence. Good News Translation, Revised English Bible translate “So she is your wife!” We may also say “She is for certain your wife,” “There is now no doubt; she is your wife!” In some languages a literal rendering of “Look! …,” calling Isaac’s attention to what Abimelech has just found out, will be quite natural and appropriate. In others it is very natural to say “Now I know….”

How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?: or we may say “Why did you say ‘She is my sister?’ ” or as indirect speech, “Why did you say she was your sister?” (Good News Translation). For a similar question put to Abraham, see 12.19. The question is not taken by Isaac to be rhetorical, because he attempts to give a reply. In translation some languages will use in contexts like this a form of the question word “Why?” which indicates anger directed against the hearer. In some translations the main part of the question is expressed as a statement (accusation): “You lied to us when you told us she was your sister. Why did you do that?”

Isaac’s reply Because I thought … refers to the reason he gave in Gen 26.7. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew form, which must sometimes be expressed as “Because I thought they would kill me and take her.”

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 .