The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
The name that is transliterated as “Uzziah” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that refers to Uzziah contracting a rare forehead disease until he died as a result of him wrongly wanting to make an offering in the temple (see 2 Chronicles 26:16, 26:19, and 26:21). (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 26:9:
Kupsabiny: “And again, Uzziah built tall things from which one could see far in Jerusalem, He built those things at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate and where the wall protruded. Then, he prepared those things from which one looks far to be well guarded.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Uzziah fortified Jerusalem by building towers at the corners of the city wall and at the Valley Gate.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Uzia made Jerusalem more firmed by building towers at the Corner Gate, at the Gate that Faces the Valley, and at the back-area of the stone-wall.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Uzziah’s workers built watchtowers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the place where the wall turns, and they placed weapons in them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Moreover translates the common Hebrew conjunction, but it may be adequately expressed by beginning a new paragraph here (so Good News Translation).
Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle: These three towers were not just for the sake of beautifying the city wall; they were built in order to provide more protection for the city of Jerusalem. For city towers, see the comments on 2 Chr 14.7.
For the Corner Gate, see the comments on 2 Chr 25.23.
The Valley Gate was located in the western wall of the city, facing the Tyropoeon Valley. Moffatt transliterates the Hebrew word for Valley, saying “the Gai gate,” but this is not recommended.
The Angle (also New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) is literally “the turning.” The location of this place on the wall is uncertain. Since Neh 3.15-32 lists the Angle with the Water Gate and the Horse Gate, the Angle may have been located in the eastern wall of the city. The exact meaning of the Hebrew word translated the Angle is not certain. Other translations include “the escarpment” (Revised English Bible) and “the angle of the wall” (New International Version). Some languages may say “the place where two walls come together” or “the place where the city wall turned inward” (Contemporary English Version).
And fortified them: The pronoun them refers to the three towers.
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 .
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.