Elijah

The name that is transliterated as “Elijah” in English means “God-LORD,” “strength of the LORD,” “my God is YHWH.” “the LORD God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “whirlwind” (according to 2 Kings 2:11) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elijah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see how other sign languages are translating “Elijah”

In American Sign Language it is translated with a depiction of being taken up to heaven with a chariot of fire. (Source: ASL Sign Language Directory )


“Elijah” in American Sign Language (source )

Likewise in Estonian Sign Language, but with a different sign (source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)


“Elijah” in Estonian Sign Language (source )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “fire” (referring to 1 Kings 18:38). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Elijah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Elijah from the late 13h century.

 
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 )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Elijah .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 8:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 8:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “The descendants of Jeroham (are/were) these: Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The children of Jeroham were Shamsherai, Sheharia, Atalia, Jaareshia, Elias, and Zicri.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Another descendant of Benjamin was Jeroham, whose sons were Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zicri.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 8:26 - 8:27

Good News Translation, New Century Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje bring forward from verse 27 the information that the persons named in verses 26-27 were sons/descendants of Jeroham. Jeroham is called “Jeremoth” in verse 14. Moffatt reads “Jeremoth” in both verses, while Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “Jeroham” in both verses. It is obvious that the two names refer to the same person, but the spelling of one of the two names is a mistake, and there is no way to know which spelling is correct. Unless some kind of adjustment is made in the spelling of the two names in the text, an explanatory footnote will be required to inform the reader that the different forms refer to the same person.

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 8:27

8:27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.

Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zichri were Jehoram’s sons.
-or-
and Jaareshiah and Elijah and Zichri. These were the sons of Jeroham.

8:26-27 (reordered)

⌊Jeroham’s sons were⌋ Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zichri.

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