Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English is translated in Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


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

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

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 Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

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 24:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 24:33:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, Eleazar son of Aaron died. He was buried in the city of Gibeah in the highland of Ephraim which had been given to his son Phinehas.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Eleazar, the son of Aaron also died and they buried him at Gibeah, the city that had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Eleazar the child/(son) of Aaron also died and was-buried in Gibea, the town/city in the mountains of Efraim, which was-given to the child/(son) of Eleazar who-(is) Finehas.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Eleazar, the Supreme Priest, the son of Aaron, also died. They buried his body at Gibeah, in the area that had been given to Eleazar’s son Phinehas, in the hilly area that belonged to the people who were descendants of Ephraim.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 24:33

Nothing definite is known of the location of Gibeah. Instead of being a proper name, the Hebrew word could be the common noun “hill” (so King James Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible). For Phinehas see 22.13-14.

Was buried at Gibeah may be shifted to an active verb phrase with the subject expressly indicated: “When Eleazar son of Aaron died, the people of Israel buried him at the town of Gibeah. This town was in the hill country of Ephraim, and it belonged to his son Phinehas.” Or, following the other interpretation. “When Eleazar son of Aaron died, the people of Israel buried his body in one of the hills in the hill country of Ephraim. This hill belonged to Eleazar’s son Phinehas.”

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 .