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”):
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)
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)
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
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 27:22:
Kankanaey: “When Jacob approached then, his father placed-hands-on (him) and said, ‘That voice of yours (sing.) is like the voice of Jacob, but your (sing.) hands by-contrast, are like the hands of Esau.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Newari: “Jacob went close to Isaac. Having touched him Isaac said — ‘Your voice seems like Jacob’s. Your hand, however, seems like Esau’s.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “So Jacob went-closer, and he was-touched/felt by his father and said, ‘Your voice seems-as-if (it) belongs to Jacob but your arm seems-as-if (it) belongs to Esau.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So Jacob went close to him. Isaac. Isaac touched him and said, ‘Your voice sounds like Jacob, but your hands feel hairy, like the hands of your older brother, Esau.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
So Jacob went near to Isaac his father: So marks the consequence of Isaac’s command. Good News Translation accomplishes the same end without a result marker.
Who felt him: this relative clause may need to be expressed as a separate sentence; for example, “Isaac felt him,” “Isaac touched him with his hands.”
As a result Isaac expresses his confusion.
The voice is Jacob’s voice: The voice may have to be expressed as “Your voice sounds like Jacob’s voice,” “Your voice is that of Jacob,” “You sound like Jacob,” “You speak just like Jacob.”
But the hands are the hands of Esau: but signals the contrast between the association of the voice and the hands. For hands see verse 16. Hands is best represented “arms” if the translator’s language distinguishes between “hands” and “arms.” Here again it may be preferable to speak of “your hands” in place of the impersonal the hands. We may also say, for example, “But your hands are just like Esau’s.” Another possibility here may be to translate [Isaac] said as “said to himself” or “thought.” In the context of trying to work out whether the person before him was genuine or not, it would be natural enough for the old man to keep this line of thought to himself. In this case there would be no need to change the hands to “your hands.”
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 .
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