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 .

complete verse (Genesis 42:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 42:29:

  • Kankanaey: “When they arrived then to the location of their father in Canaan, they gave-the-negative-report to him of all that had happened to them.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Arriving at their father Jacob’s place in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When they arrived in Canaan, they told their father Jacob all that happened to them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When they returned to their father in Canaan land, they told him all that had happened to them. One of them said,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 42:29

When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan: this time clause serves as a transition to the conversation with Jacob in Canaan. In some languages it may be necessary to express the movement in the direction of Canaan before being able to speak of arriving there; for example, “They traveled on toward Canaan until they came to their father Jacob” or “… and when they came to their father they told him….”

They told him all that had befallen them: that is, “they told him everything that had happened to them in Egypt.”

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 .