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 (Jeremiah 40:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 40:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Johanan son of Kareah secretly said to Gedaliah in Mizpah, ‘Why should this man be spearing you, so that he can cause the Jews whom you stay together with to disperse/spread out and the remnant of Judah be destroyed? Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah without anyone knowing it.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After that, Johanan met secretly with Gedalia and said, ‘I will-kill Ishmael wherein no one will-know. Why should we let him kill you? This will-be the reason that the Jews who were left here in Juda whom you rule-over will-be-scattered and will-be-lost.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Later Johanan talked with Gedaliah privately. He said, ‘Allow me to go and murder Ishmael secretly. It would not be good to allow him to come and murder you! If you are killed, what will happen to all the Jews who have returned to this area? They will be scattered, and the other people who remain in Judah will all be killed!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 40:15

Secretly may be rendered “privately” (Good News Translation).

No one will know it: Translators should not interpret this to mean that no one will know Ishmael has been killed, but, as in Good News Translation, that no one will know that it was Johanan who did it.

Why should he take … would perish?: This is a long rhetorical question that Good News Translation has wisely broken down into a question and a sentence that gives the consequences if Gedaliah is killed. In some languages, even the short rhetorical question would be more naturally expressed as an affirmation: “He must not be allowed to kill you!”

The remnant of Judah; that is, the people who are left in Judah. See verse 11.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .