family / clan / house

The Hebrew terms that are translated as “family” or “clan” or “house” or similar in English are all translated in Kwere as ng’holo or “clan.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the English translation by Goldingay (2018) it is translated as “kin-group.”

See also tribe.

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 (Numbers 26:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 26:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “And the descendants of Judah going by houses are: House of Shelah, house of Perez and house of Zerah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The descendants of Judah according to clan were like this —
    The Selanite clan from Sela,
    The Perezite clan from Perez,
    The Zerahite clan from Zerah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Juda had two male children/[son] who were Er and Onan, who died in the land of Canaan. But Juda had descendants still who were the family of Shela, Perez, and Zera.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They counted 76,500 men from the tribe of Judah. They were in clans descended from Shelah, Perez, Zerah, Hezron, and Hamul. Judah’s other two sons, Er and Onan, died in Canaan without having had any children.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 26:19 - 26:22

This paragraph is about the census of the tribe of Judah. It runs parallel to the previous paragraphs of verses 5-7, 12-14, and 15-18 (see the comments there). However, it also includes additional material in verses 19 and 21.

The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan: The first two sons of Judah were Er and Onan (see Gen 38.3-4). Since Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan (compare Gen 46.12), no clans descended from them. They died without offspring (see Gen 38.7-10). They died before Jacob and his extended family moved to Egypt (so Plaut, page 1076). Good News Translation places these clauses after the list of Judah’s clans to express their idea clearly, saying “Two of Judah’s sons, Er and Onan, had died in the land of Canaan” (similarly Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bijbel in Gewone Taal). This may be a helpful model in other languages. Good News Translation puts this historical comment in parentheses, which diminishes its significance. However, its position in the Hebrew text indicates that this is a very important point. Although it is not stated explicitly, the death of Er and Onan served as a second “warning” to the new generation of Israelites: Just as the LORD does not tolerate political rebellion in the ranks (verse 10), so also he does not allow cases of disobedient behavior.

The clans of Judah descended from his sons Shelah, Perez and Zerah, and Perez’s sons Hezron and Hamul (see Gen 46.12; 1 Chr 2.3-4). With its list of Judah’s clans Good News Translation seems to suggest that Hezron and Hamul were sons of Judah, but it should be clear that Perez was their father. The Hezronites and the Hamulites were “subclans” (New Living Translation) under the clan of the Perezites. King David was a descendant of Perez and Hezron (Ruth 4.18-22). This may be the reason why the text makes a point of mentioning them here.

These are the families of Judah according to their number, seventy-six thousand five hundred: Judah was the largest tribe in this census and in the first one (see 1.27). For according to their number, see verse 18.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .