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 33:8:
Newari: “Esau asked Jacob — ‘What were the herds that I met on the way?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Esau asked Jacob, ‘What (is) your meaning to-say with those groups of animals that I met?’ Jacob said, ‘Those (are) my gift to you (sing.) so-that you (sing.) will-accept me.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Esau asked, ‘What is the meaning of all the animals that I saw?’ Jacob replied, ‘I am giving them to you, sir, so that you will feel good toward me.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, a god, or a person or persons to be greatly honored, the honorific prefix go- (御 or ご) can be used, as in go-kōi (ご好意), a combination of “favor” (kōi) and the honorific prefix go-.
Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person. In these verses, however, the more venerable anata-sama (あなた様) is used, which combines anata with the with a formal title -sama.
Esau said: without commenting on Jacob’s family, Esau inquires about the herds sent to him as gifts. The Hebrew text has “He said” where “He” can only mean Esau. Said must often be rendered as “asked,” since what follows is a question.
What do you mean by all this company which I met?: Esau’s question is literally “Who [or, What] to you all that camp [or, company] I met?” (The word for “camp” or “company” is the same as that used in 32.10 and in forming the word “Mahanaim” in 32.2.) Although somewhat difficult to interpret, the sense seems to be “What did you have in mind when you sent all those herds to me?” Esau seems to be asking why Jacob wanted to give them to him. Jacob’s answer confirms that interpretation of Esau’s question. We may translate the question, for example, “What did you hope to do with those herds I met?” “What was your purpose in sending those animals to me?” or “Why did you send all those animals to me?” In some languages it may be easier to translate some or all of Esau’s words as a statement rather than a question. Two examples are “I met these people coming with animals. Why did you send them to me?” and “Those workers with the animals which I met before, I don’t know why you sent them.”
To find favor in the sight of my lord: for the meaning of this expression, see 6.8 and 32.5. Jacob’s answer refers to what Esau has asked about, namely, the gift of animals, but does not actually say that. In translation this will often have to be filled in: “I sent them in order to…” or “They are for you, to make you feel good toward me.”
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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