The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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)
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:3:
Kupsabiny: “A portion from the clans of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh came to live in the city of Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “These are the [people] of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “These were the people-groups of Juda, Benjamin, Efraim, and Manase who were-able-to-return and lived in Jerusalem:” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Other people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh also returned to Judah and lived in Jerusalem. This is a list of those people of the tribe of Judah:” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Verses 3-9 list non-Levitical clans who returned to live in Jerusalem.
And: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse is usually not translated in most modern versions (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible) although it is retained in some (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version). Naturalness in the receptor language should be the determining factor in whether or not the Hebrew conjunction is translated here.
Some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh dwelt in Jerusalem: The wording of the text makes it clear that it was not all of the people in the tribes named who settled in Jerusalem. According to Neh 11.1, the people drew lots to choose one family out of every ten to go and live in the capital city.
Judah and Benjamin formed the southern kingdom of Judah; Ephraim and Manasseh had been the two most important tribes in the northern kingdom of Israel, and here they probably stand for the entire northern kingdom. Throughout 1 Chronicles the writer emphasizes God’s intention for the unity of “all” Israel (see 11.1-9; 12.1-40; 13.1-14). The parallel text in Neh 11.4 omits the reference to Ephraim and Manasseh. In the lists that follow in this chapter, there is no further mention of people from Ephraim and Manasseh.
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 .
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