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 (1 Chronicles 6:55)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 6:55:

  • Kupsabiny: “They were given the city of Hebron in the area/province of Judah and the land for grazing which surrounded that city. Hebron was a city that one could flee to. But Caleb son of Jephunneh was given farms/land and villages which were near that city. Other cities that were given to the descendants of Aaron in the province of Judah together with the grazing areas were these: Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They were given places to graze animals which were right and left of Hebron in Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Including in these places were Hebron in Juda and the pasturelands around it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They were allotted Hebron city in Judah and the pastureland around the city,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 6:55

To them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture lands: Hebron is first mentioned as a place where Abram camped (Gen 13.18). It was also known in former times as Kiriath Arba (Jdg 1.10). It is located in a mountainous area with many wells and springs. It is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Jerusalem. For pasture lands, see the comments on the next verse.

While the sentence started in verse 54 continues to the end of verse 56, it is probably better in most languages to make a separate sentence of verse 55; for example, Contemporary English Version has “They received the town of Hebron in the territory of Judah and the pastureland around it.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 6:55

6:55 They were given Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasturelands.

⌊The family of Aaron’s grandson Kohath⌋ received/got Hebron ⌊city⌋ and the surrounding grazing land in ⌊the territory of⌋ Judah.
-or-

⌊The other people of Israel gave land to Aaron’s descendants of the Kohath clan. Judah’s clan⌋ gave them Hebron ⌊city⌋ in ⌊the area of⌋ Judah with the nearby open/uncultivated land.
-or-
So the tribe of Judah gave the descendants of Kohath the city of Hebron in ⌊the region of⌋ Judah. ⌊They gave them⌋ the uncultivated land around the city,

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.