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 46:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 46:15:

  • Newari: “These are the sons of Jacob borne by Leah in Paddan-aram. By her there was also one daughter, Dinah. All together Jacob had thirty-three offspring by Leah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These were the 33 children and grandchildren of Jacob with Lea who (were) born in Padan Aram, not including his female child/(daughter) Dina.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Here is/I will now give you a list of the names of the members of Jacob’s family who went with him to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son; Reuben’s sons Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; Simeon and his sons Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, who was the son of a Canaan people-group woman; Levi and his sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; Judah and his sons, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (his other sons, Er, and Onan, had died in Canaan); Perez and his two sons Hezron and Hamul; Issachar and his sons Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron; Zebulon and his sons Sered, Elon, and Jahleel; (Those were the sons of Jacob and Leah, and their daughter Dinah, who were born in Paddan-Aram/Mesopotamia: There were 33 of them, altogether.) They had Gad and his sons Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli; Asher and his sons Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and their sister Serah; Beriah’s sons Heber and Malkiel; (Those were the children and grandchildren of Jacob and Zilpah, the slave girl whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah: There were 16 of them, altogether.) Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel; (Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s two sons. They did not go down to Egypt because they were already in Egypt. They were sons of Asenath, the daughter of On, who was the priest in the temple in On city.) Benjamin and his sons Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard; (Those were the sons and grandsons of Rachel and Jacob: There were 14 people altogether.) Dan and his son Hushim; Naphtali and his sons Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. (Those were the sons and grandsons of Jacob and Bilhah, the slave girl whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel: There were seven people altogether.)” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 46:15

These are the sons of Leah: these points back to the names in verses 8-14. For Paddan-aram see 25.20.

Together with … Dinah: that is, “in addition to Jacob’s daughter Dinah,” “To these must be added their daughter Dinah,” “And there was also his daughter Dinah,” or “Leah also had one daughter named Dinah.”

Altogether … thirty-three: that is, “Jacob’s sons and daughter were thirty-three” or “Altogether Jacob and Leah had thirty-three sons and daughters.” Apart from the need to include “daughter” in this case, it is also necessary in some languages to say “sons and grandsons” rather than just “sons” here and in the other places where a total number of family members is given.

Although verse 15 says his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three, Dinah is the only female in the list, and she is apparently not counted as one of the thirty-three. Note the wording of Good News Translation.

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 .