The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is transliterated as “Haggai” in English means “festival of the LORD,” “born of a festival day,” “my solemn feast.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts the prophet pointing to God as his message to the people in Jerusalem.
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that suggests that the prophet directly interprets the word of God to the people. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Haggai” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Haggai,” the second and third parts refer to “prophet” and “book” (source )
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Hosea” in English means “Jehovah is help or salvation,” “salvation.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts going away and returning, referring to Hosea going away and finding the prostitute Gomer to marry and then returning home with her (see Hosea 1:2 and Hosea 1:3).
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign thatrefers to the faithful acceptance of God’s inexplicable command (as one who is able, as it were, to swallow the evil—that is, to endure his wife’s infidelity — see Hosea 3:1). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Hosea” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Hosea,” the second and third parts refer to “prophet” and “book” (source )
The following is a stained glass window of Hosea in the Augsburg Cathedral in Germany. It is part of the “Prophet windows of Augsburg ” from the 12th century which is assumed to be the oldest remaining set of church windows:
Photo by Hans Bernhard, hosted by Wikimedia Common under the GFDL-CC-BY-SA-all 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 )
The Greek term that means “one who is sent off” in its singular form and is usually transliterated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:
San Blas Kuna: “witnesses to God” (meaning “those who speak up and out for God” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida, except Balanta-Kentohe: Rob Koops)
Mairasi: sasiri atatuemnev nesovnaa or “sent witnesses” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
Khmer: Christtout (“messenger representing Christ”) or when Jesus addresses them: Tout robas Preah Ang (“his messengers-representatives”) (source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1996, p. 233ff. )
Pwo Karen: “eyeballs” (i.e., “right-hand men”) (source: David Clark)
Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “one who goes about preaching the good word” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Noongar: Moorta Ngany Waangki-Koorl or “People I (Jesus) Send” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Ayutla Mixtec: “those who bore the word of God’s mouth”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “elders messengers” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Yakan: “commissioned ones” (source: Yakan Back Translation) — note that Scot McKnight in the EnglishThe Second Testament (publ. 2023) translates it as commissioners
Tenango Otomi: “(Jesus’) representatives” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Tsamakko: “ones-who-work-for-Christ” (source: Chris Pluger)
Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.
In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“apostles” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that shows the shape of the beard, based on the common and general visual representation of the apostles. This sign differs from the sign for a beard as used in colloquial language. The sign of the apostle does not originate from a specific biblical verse, but rather from the cultural context and later ecclesiastical tradition. “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” Lev 19:27. In the biblical era, wearing a beard was the default social and religious norm among Jewish men. The Apostle Peter is generally depicted with a short, curly, white beard. The Apostle Paul appears with a longer, pointed beard. The Apostle John is an exception, as he was the youngest disciple. In iconography, he is often the only one painted without a beard (as a youth) to emphasize his purity and age (see for instance at Transfiguration (icon)). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign forming the letter ‘j’ near the heart. This also reflects the fact that this apostle was related to Jesus. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Jude” in Hungarian Sign Language — not that only the first part refers to “Jude,” with the second part meaning “letter” (source )
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Joel” in English means “LORD of God,” “the LORD is God,” “the LORD is might.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated in two different ways. The first is with a sign depicting “Pentecost flame,” referring to Peter’s speech on Pentecost in which he quotes Joel in Acts 2:16 and following. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that refers to the fact that God’s message, through the prophet, was perceived and proclaimed in the widest possible scope (see Joel 2:28). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Joel” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Joel,” the second and third parts refer to “prophet” and “book” (source )
Ixcatlán Mazatec: “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom)
Noongar: dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember)
Kwere “to know how to live well” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Dobel: “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes)
Gbaya: iŋa-mgbara-mɔ or “knowing-about-things” (note that in comparison to that, “knowledge” is translated as iŋa-mɔ or “knowing things”) (source: Philip Noss in The Bible Translator 2001, p. 114ff. )
Chichewa: nzeru, meaning both “knowledge” and “wisdom” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
Kako: “heart thinking” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190)
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a hand gesture referring to God to indicate a human quality to communicate that wisdom does not originate from man but is linked to and connected with the fear of God (source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group):
The Aramaic or Syriac that is transliterated in English as “Golgotha” is translated in Hungarian Sign Language with a two-handed sign: the lower hand indicates the place of the skull (see Mark 15:22 et al.), while the other hand depicts the sign for the three crosses of Golgotha (see Mark 15:7 et al.). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
The Hebrew and Latin that is transliterated as “Amos” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “renovate / renew,” particularly referring to Amos 9:11. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign that depicts Amos’ move from the Southern Kingdom of Judah into the Northern Kingdom of Israel to prophesy against it.
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign reflecting the meaning and significance of the Hebrew name: burden-bearer or one who carries a load. While the biblical text does not explicitly define the name, its meaning indirectly alludes to the prophet’s ministry, as he proclaimed heavy judgments (burdens) against Israel. “I will crush you as a cart crushes, when loaded with grain.” (Amos 2:13). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Amos” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Amos,” the second and third parts refer to “prophet” and “book” (source )
Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Amos from the 18th century (found in the Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia). The words on the scroll are extracted from Isaiah 13:6: “For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty!”
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
