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 (2 Chronicles 22:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 22:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “And when Jehu was punishing the house of Ahab, he met with rulers of Judah together with sons of the brothers of Ahaziah who were helping Ahaziah. Then Jehu killed those people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “While Jehu was punishing the clan of Ahab, he encountered [some] servants of Ahaziah, princes of Judah and sons of their relatives [and] killed them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While Jehu was destroying the household of Ahab, he saw the officials of Juda and the children of the families of Ahazia who went-with Ahazia. And he killed them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “While Jehu and the men who were with him were killing the descendants of Ahab, they found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s relatives who had been working for Ahaziah, and they killed all of them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 22:8

And when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab: And renders the Hebrew verbal transition that is sometimes translated “And it came about” (NASB), but it is often eliminated in modern English versions since it is not considered natural. The Hebrew verb phrase here may mean either was executing judgment upon or “was in conflict with” (so Revised English Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond). The first meaning is followed by most translations. Since it is explicit in the context that this was God’s judgment, the idea is most likely that Jehu was simply carrying out the decision that God had made concerning the descendants of Ahab. For this whole clause New Century Version says simply “While Jehu was punishing Ahab’s family.”

He met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers …: The Hebrew noun translated princes refers to someone important (see the comments on 1 Chr 19.3 and 2 Chr 12.5). In English the word princes usually refers to the sons of a king, which is not the intended meaning in the Hebrew here. It is better rendered “leaders” (Contemporary English Version, New Century Version) or “officials” (New Living Translation) in this context. The sons of Ahaziah’s brothers were “Ahaziah’s nephews” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible; similarly New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant). In some languages it may be necessary to indicate whether the nephews were sons of Ahaziah’s brothers or of his sisters. The Septuagint, which omits the words the sons of, is the basis for the Revised English Bible rendering “the kinsmen of Ahaziah.” In the Revised English Bible translation the Hebrew word brothers is taken in the larger sense of “kinsmen.” New Living Translation is similar with “Ahaziah’s relatives.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the reading in the Masoretic Text, which is followed by Revised Standard Version and most other versions.

Who attended Ahaziah may be rendered “who were in the service of Ahaziah” (Nouvelle Bible Segond) or “who served under Ahaziah” (similarly Moffatt).

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 .