In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 36:2:
Kupsabiny: “Joahaz began to rule when he had twenty-three years, and he ruled in Jerusalem three months.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem for three months.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned within the (period) of three months.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became the king, but he ruled from Jerusalem for only three months.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating the age of Jehoahaz when he took over (twenty-three years old), the length of his reign (three months), and his capital (Jerusalem). However, it does not mention his mother’s name. See the comments on 2 Chr 12.13. The name rendered Jehoahaz is actually the shorter form “Joahaz” in Hebrew. This is also the case in verse 4.
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 .
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