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 .

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 9:3

The length of time that passes between the events in the previous verses and this action is not indicated. The conjunction And may be rendered “After this” or omitted (so Good News Bible).

A proclamation was made throughout Judea and Jerusalem to all who had returned from the captivity that they should assemble at Jerusalem: The text does not tell us who issued this proclamation. In verse 4 Good News Bible leaves the impression it was “the leaders of the people,” but verse 4 does not really say that the Jewish leaders issued the proclamation, only that they would judge whether a man had complied with the proclamation. Contemporary English Version makes the assumption that the Jewish leaders made the proclamation. It is possible that it was Ezra himself who did it, but the parallel passage in Ezra 10.7 says “they made a proclamation,” so the author of 1 Esdras knew that it was done by a group of some kind. The passive construction a proclamation was made is useful here, but translators who cannot use the passive may say “the Jewish leaders made a proclamation.” The proclamation ordered all the Jews who had returned from exile to come to Jerusalem.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• The Jewish leaders sent a message to all the men in Judah and Jerusalem who had returned from the exile [or, from Babylonia] to meet in Jerusalem.

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.