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 .

complete verse (Genesis 31:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 31:31:

  • Newari: “Jacob said to Laban — ‘I was afraid, thinking, that holding your daughters back, you would take them away from me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Jacob replied to him, ‘I did- not -ask-permission from you (sing.) for I was-afraid that maybe you (sing.) would-force me that (you) take-back your children from me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob replied to Laban, saying, ‘I did not tell you that we were planning to leave, because I was afraid. I thought that if I told you, you would forcefully take your daughters away from me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 31:31

In verse 31 Jacob replies to the question asked by Laban in verse 26: “Why did you carry off my daughters?” The answer to the question “Why did you steal my gods?” is not given until verse 32. However, Jacob’s reply Because I was afraid may appear to answer why he stole Laban’s gods, because it follows straight after that question. In order to avoid this confusion, it may be helpful to introduce Jacob’s reply by saying “Then Jacob told Laban why he had fled with his daughters.” Another way that some translations follow is to make the beginning of Jacob’s reply refer clearly to his departure: “We went away like that because I was afraid, and I thought that you would take your daughters away from me.”

I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force: this is the second part of Jacob’s answer concerning Leah and Rachel, which makes it clear what Jacob is referring to when he says “I was afraid.” The Hebrew text says “for I said…,” which some understand as introducing a direct address to himself and so translate “I was afraid and I said to myself….” However, this may also be expressed as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Take … by force translates a verb meaning to “seize,” “plunder,” “rob.” In this context it means to force Jacob to give them up, to take them forcefully away from Jacob. In some languages this is expressed “I thought you would tie me up and grab your daughters.”

In some languages it is more natural or more appropriate for Jacob to refer to your daughters as “my two wives.”

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 .