The name that is transliterated as “Phoebe” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that signifies “radiant” or “light” (the meaning of the name) and represents that she was a deaconess in the church. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Phoebe” in Libras (source )
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
The Greek that is translated as “Pentecost” in English is translated in Huichol as “festival of the 7th week” It was rendered thus because the name of Pentecost would be equated with a sect only, and a harvest festival in late May would strain credibility. (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated that with a sign that combines 5, 0, and “feast” (because it is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday). (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Pentecost” in Libras (source )
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that refers to the fire of the Holy Spirit. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Pentecost” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )
In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as “the fiftieth day after Passover, on the Jewish Pentecost” (in Acts 2:1).
In Huichol, it is translated as “festival of the 7th week,” “because the name of ‘Pentecost’ would be equated only with [Pentecostal Christians], and a harvest festival in late May would strain credibility.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pentecost .
The Greek that is transliterated in English as “Theophilus” is translated in the Bavarian translation by Sturmibund (publ. 1998) as “Gottlieb.” “Gottlieb” is a popular name in Bavarian-speaking Germany and Austria and has the same meaning than “Theophilus”: “friend (or ‘lover’) of God.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that signifies “friend of God.” (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Theophilus” in Libras (source )
Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title.
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see this article in Christianity Today .
In these verses, Theophilus is addressed in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as Teofilo-sama (テオフィロ様), combining the transliteration for “Theophilus” and the suffix title –sama. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
The German translation by Walter Jens (publ. 1991, 1998) uses “Theophilus” throughout the Gospel of Luke to remind the reader of the nature of the Gospel as a report to Theophilus. See for instance in Luke 2:21 were he translates: “And then, my dear Theophilus, eight days passsed…” or in Luke 2:25: “I’m telling the truth, Theophilus: It was the time when a man named Simon…” and many others.
More information under Theophilus (biblical) .
The name that by some English 20th century translations was transliterated as “Junias” but is now widely recognized as a female name and typically transliterated as “Junia” is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) as a male name with a combinations of the signs for “young man” (which is assumed to be the meaning of the name) and “3” (because Junias was one of three prisoners along with Paul and Andronicus). (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Junias” in Libras (source )
This is likely a reflection of the majority of Portuguese Bible translations that with some exceptions (Versão Fácil de Ler 1999, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje 2000, Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009, Nova Versão Internacional 2023) use the male form Júnias rather than the female Júnia.
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Junia .
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see this article in Christianity Today .
The name that is transliterated as “Apollonia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts Apollo , who the city was named after and who is often depicted as playing a harp, playing of a harp in the left hand. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Apollonia” in Libras (source )
The name that is transliterated as “Cilicia” in English means “hair cloth,” or “the land of Celix.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts a natural wall just behind the seashore, which existed in that area. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Cilicia” in Libras (source )
For more on Cilicia, see here .
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
The name that is transliterated as “Heli” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts “My God is YHWH,” referring to the meaning of the name (other meanings: “elevation,” “ascending,””adopted of the LORD” — see Cornwall / Smith 1997 ). (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Eubulus” in Libras (source )
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
The name that is transliterated as “Cosam” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “divination” (a possible meaning of the name, another is “most abundant”) and “K” to indicate the initial sound of the name. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Cosam” in Libras (source )
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .