Reuben

The Hebrew that is transliterated as “Reuben” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “head” or “leader” referring to the position he had among his brothers as the firstborn. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Reuben” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Reuben (son of Jacob) and the Tribe of Reuben .

complete verse (Genesis 37:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:21:

  • Kankanaey: “When Ruben their older-sibling heard that plan of theirs, he forbade it saying, ‘Let’s not kill him (particle of strong disapproval)!” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Hearing this, Reuben tried to save him from their hands. He said — ‘It is not good to kill.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But when- Reuben -heard their plan, he tried to save Jose. He said, ‘Let- us (incl.) not -kill him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Reuben heard what they were saying, so he tried to persuade them not to kill Joseph. He said, ‘No, we should not kill him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:21

But when Reuben … out of their hands: Revised Standard Version introduces Reuben’s intervention with But. Good News Translation uses only a new paragraph. Some versions say “When Reuben heard this….” All these are possible translations. Reuben as the eldest son is responsible to represent his father in the latter’s absence. Delivered him out of their hands is an idiom in which hands represents power, control. The form of the verb rendered delivered probably has the sense of attempting to deliver. See Good News Translation “tried to save Joseph.”

Let us not take his life is literally “Let us not strike his life [soul].” The sense is correctly rendered by Revised Standard Version.

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 .