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)
The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Solomon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wise” referring to 1 Kings 3:12. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 11:42:
Kupsabiny: “Solomon ruled the country of Israel for forty years, and he ruled that country from the city of Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Solomon lived in Jerusalem while he reigns the whole Israel for a period/[lit. inside] of 40 years.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “He was the king in Jerusalem who ruled over all of Israel for 40 years.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
The time is literally “the days.” But this obviously refers to the time period defined at the end of the verse. Because of the length of this period, the word “days” will be inappropriate in many languages in this context.
All Israel: Unlike verse 37, where “Israel” refers to the northern kingdom of ten tribes, here Israel refers to the united kingdom. The qualifying word all should help to make this clear.
Forty years: The number forty was the traditional number used to refer to one generation. The number forty is often used in the Old Testament as a round number to indicate a long period of time rather than a precise number of years. Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Deut 2.7; Josh 5.6). Othniel (Jdg 3.11), Gideon (Jdg 8.28), Eli (1 Sam 4.18), Saul (Acts 13.21), David (2 Sam 5.4; 1 Kgs 2.11), and Joash (2 Kgs 12.1) are all said to have ruled for forty years. The Philistines ruled Israel for forty years (Jdg 13.1), and God promised to punish Egypt for forty years (Ezek 29.11-12).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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