Canaan

The term that is transliterated as “Canaan” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign loosely referencing the act of hiding/covering one’s face in shame. The association of “shame” with the name “Canaan” comes from Genesis 9, specifically verse 9:25. This sign was adapted from a similar sign in Kenyan Sign Language (see here). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Canaan” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Canaan in biblical times (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 .

Esau

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

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 Jacob and hairy (like Esau).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esau .

complete verse (Genesis 36:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 36:6:

  • Newari: “Esau took all the members of his family, the cows, sheep and other cattle and property he had gathered in the land of Canaan, separated from his younger brother Jacob, and went to another land.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Esau took his wives, children, and all who (were) under-the-jurisdiction of his family, as-well-as his possessions and livestock that he had-gathered in Canaan, and he moved to a place going-far-away from Jacob his sibling/(brother).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Jacob and Esau had very many possessions. The result was that they needed more land for their livestock. The land where they were living was not big enough for both of them. They had too much livestock. So Esau, whose other name was Edom, had taken his wives and sons and daughters and all the other members of his household, his sheep and goats and his other animals, and all the other things he had obtained in Canaan land, and they had moved to an area that was away from Jacob.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 36:6

Verses 6-8 do not contain a list of descendants and therefore are not given a separate heading in this Handbook. Verse 6 explains that Esau moved all of his people and property to separate himself from Jacob. Verse 7 explains the reason for the migration, and verse 8 concludes the migration account. Translators who wish to place verses 6-8 under a special heading may say, for example, “Esau migrates to Seir,” “Esau moves his people and animals to Edom.”

Then Esau took his wives … Canaan: for a similar account of Abraham taking his possessions and migrating, see 12.5.

All the members of his household is literally “all the souls of his house.” Some understand these to be Esau’s servants, and others take it to refer to those related to him. It probably refers to everyone who was in some way attached to his camp: slaves, servants, and relatives. Therefore it is best to translate “and all the people of his camp” or “and all the rest who belonged to his camp.”

Cattle and beasts means “his livestock” or “his animals.” Property is the same word as used in 34.23 and refers to moveable possessions.

Acquired in the land of Canaan: that is, “that he had gotten while he lived in the country of Canaan” or “he had become the owner of all these while he was still living in Canaan.”

Went into a land away from his brother Jacob: some versions follow the ancient src Syriacsrc* version, which has “He went to the land of Seir.” See Gen 36.8. The ancient Targums have “another [land],” which appears to be the basis for the Good News Translation rendering, or the way in which Good News Translation interprets the Hebrew. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the wording as a {B} and recommends translating “into a land [which was] distant [literally away] from Jacob.” See 25.6 for a similar situation, in which the other sons of Abraham moved away from Isaac.

In some languages it is more natural to place this last clause first: “Esau left his brother Jacob and went to live in another place. He took his wives … and went.”

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 .