Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” 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 .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 2:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 2:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Judah had a wife who was called Batshua. That woman was a daughter of the Canaanites and she bore to Judah three sons. They were: Er, Onan and Shelah. The firstborn who was called Er married a woman who was called Tamar. But God killed Er because he did evil. But after some years Tamar who was the wife of his son bore to Judah two sons. One of the sons was called Perez and the other Zerah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Judah’s daughter-in-law, Tamar gave birth to Perez and Zerah. All together, Judah had five sons.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Juda had still-more male children with Tamar his (daughter)-in-law. These were Perez and Zera. Five in all were the male children of Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 2:4

His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah: See Gen 38.12-30 for the details of how Tamar, the widow of Er, became the mother of Judah’s sons Perez and Zerah. The pronoun His refers to Judah. Translators in some languages will need to make this clear by rendering this pronoun as “Judah’s” (New Century Version). The hyphenated English term daughter-in-law is translated in a wide variety of ways in receptor languages. Some may have special technical terms, while others will convey the meaning by saying “son’s wife.” Revised Standard Version has added the word also because of the context. Good News Translation expresses this same idea with the words “two more sons.” Perez was the twenty-fourth generation in the line of descent that began with Adam.

Judah had five sons in all: Good News Translation moves this clause forward to the beginning of verse 3 in order to present the information in a more logical way in English.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .