son vs. grandson

“Son of x, son of y” must be rendered as “son of x and grandson of y” in Tibetan or else it will sound like two different people.

Note: The same translation solution is chosen in many contemporary English Bibles that emphasize easy readability, such as the Contemporary English Version, Common English Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, or New Living Translation.

See also father / grandfather.

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 9:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Also (people) from the house of Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah came. It was Uthai who led those people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Uthai was the son of Ammihud. Ammihud was the son of Omri. Omri was the son of Imri. Imri was the son of Bani. Bani was a descendant of Perez. Perez was a son of Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Utai the child of Amihud. (Amihud was the child of Omri; Omri was the child of Imri; Imri was the child of Bani, the descendant of Perez the child of Juda).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Uthai the son of Ammihud. Ammihud was the son of Omri; Omri was the son of Imri; Imri was the son of Bani; Bani was a descendant of Perez; Perez was the son of Judah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:4

Much of the meaning of verses 4-6 will probably be lost in a literal translation such as that in Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation helps the reader by making explicit that the names that follow are descendants of Judah’s three sons Perez, Shelah, and Zerah. Some scholars think that the words “Among the sons of Judah” were accidentally omitted from the beginning of verse 4 by a scribe. For this reason some translations restore the words by beginning the verse with “Among the Judahites” (New American Bible) or simply “Judahites” (Revised English Bible).

Good News Translation combines verses 4-6 and places the information about the number of families at the beginning of these verses. Verse 3 indicates that the following verses refer to people who lived in Jerusalem. Good News Translation makes that explicit here and in the following verses by adding the words “[who] lived in Jerusalem.”

Uthai the son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah: Good News Translation adds that Uthai was “their leader.” This is probably based on the fact that he is the first person mentioned from the clan of Perez. The parallel text in Neh 11.4 has the name “Athaiah,” and some interpreters think that this refers to the same person as Uthai. Other scholars, however, think that the writer of 1 Chronicles was not using the same list of genealogy as that in Nehemiah, and that the two names do not refer to the same person. Instead of son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez, the Masoretic Text says “son of Imri, son of Benjamin, sons of Perez.” However, nearly all versions follow the correction in the margin of the Masoretic Text, which says “son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez.” In the Hebrew text, if the consonants of the name “Benjamin” are divided into two words and if different vowels are used, the resulting text is “Bani, from [the sons of Perez].”

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 .