Job

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Job” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign for “patience,” referring to James 5:11 and many other passages within the book of Job. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “suffering.”


“Job” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Job .

complete verse (Job 34:36)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 34:36:

  • Kupsabiny: “Job deserves to be punished severely
    because he is speaking bad about God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Job must be examined for the words that he speaks,
    for he talks like the wicked.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (sing.) should be thoroughly tested because you (sing.) speak like a wicked man.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Job 34:36

Would that Job were tried to the end begins with a word that can be read as “my father” and is translated this way by the Vulgate. However, “my father” makes no sense here. Would that, expressing Elihu’s desire, can be rendered as in King James Version, “My desire is that….” In other words, “Job ought to be taken to court to be tried….” It is not entirely clear whether Job should be tried by men or by God. If it is by God, Job would be fully in agreement, because that is what he has asked for many times. Therefore it seems more likely that Elihu has men in mind, and himself in particular. To the end means that Job should be tried “until the last detail has been covered,” “until there is not a word left to say.” Good News Translation “Think through” does not render properly the idea of being tried in court.

The reason Job must be submitted to such a trial is because he answers like wicked men. Answers refers to Job’s speech in regard to God, and to his reply to what the friends spoke. Here “Job speaks, talks,” is better than answers. Verse 36 may be rendered, for example, “Job, you ought to be tried in great detail because you talk like a criminal” or “Job should be brought to trial until every charge has been covered, because he argues with God like an evil man.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .