The term that is transliterated as “Joseph” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that relates to a) the coat he wore (see Gen 37:3), b) the holding of his clothes by Potiphar’s wife (see Gen 39:12), and c) the many times Joseph experienced grief. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Joseph” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that signifies “dream,” referring to Jacob’s dream at Bethel (see Genesis 28:10 and the following verses). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Leah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies weak eyes, referring to Genesis 29:17. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Rachel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies the eyelashes, referring to “beautiful eyes” as the opposite of Leah (see Genesis 29:17). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 33:2:
Newari: “At the front [he] sent off the two maid servants and their children. After that he sent off Leah and her children. Last of all [he] sent off Rachel and Joseph.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “And when they went, he had- the two female servants and their children -go-ahead/first, next (was) Lea and her children, and then Raquel and her child Jose.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “He put the two female slaves and their children in front. He put Leah and her children next. He put Rachel and Joseph at the rear.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
There are two views regarding Jacob’s reason for arranging his family as described. Von Rad thinks that Jacob may be preparing for an attack and so exposes the maids and their children first, and Rachel and Joseph last. It is difficult to accept this view, simply because four women and eleven children in any arrangement would be totally defenseless against four hundred men. Therefore the more reasonable understanding is that of Westermann, namely, that this family arrangement “has nothing to do with protective measures … The division into three groups (vv. 1b-2) corresponds to the order of rank, as in the court ceremonial….” The first to place themselves in submission to Esau will be the servants, and the last to do so will be Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel.
And he put the maids with their children in front: each of these women had two children (see chapters 29–30).
Then Leah with her children: behind the maids comes Leah, who has six sons and one daughter.
And Rachel and Joseph last of all: Rachel has only one son.
There is nothing to suggest that these three groups were spaced out as were the gift herds in 32.16. Accordingly we may picture them as four women and their children arranged in the order described and walking closely together. One translation that gives this kind of picture says “He made them all line up, with the two servant women and their children first, then Leah with her children next….”
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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