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 .

Ephraim

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ephraim” 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 .

For Deborah, see here.

More information about Ephraim and the Tribe of Ephraim .

complete verse (Joshua 20:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 20:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then they chose the city of Kedesh in Galilee in the highland of Naphtali, Shechem in the highland of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the highland of Judah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “To the west of the Jordan they set Kedesh apart for this, situated in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Hebron city, called Kiriath-arba in the hill country of Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So they chose Kedesh in Galilea in the mountains of Naftali, Shekem in the mountains of Efraim, and Kiriat Arba (which is Hebron), in the mountains of Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the Israelis chose these cities to be cities to which people could run to be safe/protected: Kedesh in the Galilee district in the hilly area where the tribe of Naphtali lived; Shechem in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim lived; Kiriath-Arba (which is now named Hebron) in the hilly area where the tribe of Judah lived;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 20:7 - 20:8

Six cities are chosen, three on each side of the Jordan. On the west side (verse 7): Kedesh in the north, Shechem in the center, and Hebron in the south; on the east side (verse 8): Bezer in the south, Ramoth in the center, and Golan in the north. All six cities are listed as levitical cities in chapter 21.

Verses 7-8 may be translated separately or they may be translated as a unit. But whatever is done, the pronoun they in both verses needs to be specified as “the people of Israel,” since they were last referred to in verse 2. (1) If the verses are translated separately: “So the people of Israel set apart (or, chose) three cities on the west side of the Jordan River. These cities were….” (2) If placed together, verses 7-8 may be translated:

• So the people of Israel set aside (or, chose) six cities, three on the west side of the Jordan River and three on the east side. The cities west of the Jordan River were: … The cities east of the Jordan River were:….

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .