Miriam

The name “Miriam” or “Abataza” means “bitterness,” “rebellion” and “star of the sea.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In some Semitic languages, the transliteration for “Miriam” is identical to “Mary,” testifying to the fact that these names are identical (Arabic and the many translations that are reliant on Arabic: مَرْيَم, Hebrew: מִרְיָם, Ge’ez / Amharic and related languages: ማርያም).

It is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “tambourine” referring to Exodus 15:20. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Miriam” 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 .

The following is part of an artwork by Indian-German artist Lucy D’Souza-Krone (b. 1949):

“D’Souza’s painting of Miriam dancing at the river is one of a series of ‘Biblical Women’ reproduced as the 1990 Lenten veil of Misereor, Germany. Miriam, the prophetess and sister of Moses and Aaron, celebrated the liberation of her people from their Egyptian oppressors. Her dance was supported by other women who joined with her in an act of celebration. Writing of the story the artist adds that ‘water is a predominant element in the scene reminding us also of the physical hardship facing women in India as they often have to walk many miles for a pot of water.'” (Source for this and the image: The Bible Through Asian Eyes by Masao Takenaka and Ron O’Grady 1991)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Miriam .

Noah

The Hebrew, Latin; Ge’ez and Greek that is transliterated as “Noah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that combines the letter N + “boat.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Noah” 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 .

The following is a stained glass window depicting Noah by Endre Odon Hevezi and Gyula Bajo from 1965 for the Debre Libanos Monastery, Oromia, Ethiopia:

Photo by Timothy A. Gonsalves, hosted by Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Noah .

put his arms around him and kissed him

The Greek that is translated as “put his arms around him and kissed him” or similar in English is translated in the Pfälzisch translation by Walter Sauer (publ. 2012) as is em um de Hals gfalle un hot en abgekisst or “he flung his arms around his neck and smothered him with kisses.” (Source: Zetzsche)

In Elhomwe it is translated as “greeted him by hugging.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also kiss.

The following is a contemporary stained glass window depicting the father hugging his son in the Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Bryanston, New Zealand:

Photo by Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Bryanston

The Window of Reconciliation: The Father ran to his son and clasped him in his arms (Luke 15:21). This window portrays the reconciliation of God and ourselves: His grace (shown as brilliant light at the centre of united figures) transforms our hearts. The reconciliation we strive for in our country and our world is also portrayed — and there is no easy road to achieving peace on earth and goodwill to all (Luke 2:14). The modern window shows reconciling figures against a desert-like background that symbolises the death and desolation that threaten us. As the great 20th century poet WH Auden wrote: ‘We must love one another or die.’ (Source: Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Bryanston )

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )