Ezra

The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Ezra” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “scribe” referring to Ezra’s profession. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ezra” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts the return from Babylon to Jerusalem and toward God.


“Ezra” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Ezra .

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 14:1

On the third day, while I was sitting under an oak: An oak is a tree. It can grow quite large and is known for its strength. If the oak tree is unknown in a culture, a similar large tree may be substituted in the translation.

Behold, a voice came out of a bush opposite me and said, “Ezra, Ezra”: For the use of the word behold in the context of a dream or vision, see the comments on 2 Esd 11.1. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version render it “suddenly” here, which is a helpful model.

The verse numbering for verses 1 and 2 is slightly different in Good News Bible. We suggest following Good News Bible as a model here, but we prefer Revised Standard Version‘s verse numbering. An alternative model for verse 1 is:

• On the third day, while I was sitting under an oak tree, I suddenly heard a voice that called to me from a nearby bush, saying “Ezra! Ezra!”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.