Jerusalem

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:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

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)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 8:91

While Ezra was praying and making his confession may be rendered “While Ezra was praying and confessing these sins.” See verses 74-90.

Weeping and lying upon the ground before the temple: In verse 73, when Ezra began his prayer, he was kneeling, but apparently during his emotional prayer he threw himself wholly onto the ground, and was lying there face down. Nothing was said earlier about his weeping, but now we are told this. We gain the impression that Ezra’s grief and distress grew greater as his prayer went on. Translators have no need to harmonize this verse with verse 73. It speaks for itself. Before the temple probably refers to a place in the outer courtyard in front of the Temple building itself (see 1 Esd 9.1). The first half of this verse may be rendered “While Ezra lay face down on the ground in front of the Temple praying, he wept and confessed the sins of the people to God.”

There gathered about him a very great throng from Jerusalem, men and women and youths may be translated “A large group of men, women and children from Jerusalem gathered around him.” In this context the Greek word for youths refers to “children” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

For there was great weeping among the multitude: The large crowd of Jewish people joined Ezra in weeping bitterly for their sins. If the great and respected Ezra saw that something was dreadfully wrong, they knew that it must be so. This clause may be rendered simply “and cried bitterly” (Contemporary English Version).

Good News Bible provides a good model for this verse.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.