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 .

complete verse (1 Kings 2:36)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 2:36:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Solomon sent for Shimei to be called for him. When he arrived, he said to him, ‘Build your house in the city of Jerusalem and you live there. Do not go anywhere else.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that the King summoned Shimei and said, "Build a house in Jerusalem and live there. You are not to leave the city to go anywhere.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, the king caused-to-be-called for Shimei and said-(to-him), ‘You build your own house in Jerusalem and you live there. You (should)never leave the city and go to other place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then the king sent a messenger to summon Shimei, and the king said to him, ‘Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Remain there and do not leave the city to go anywhere.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

king

Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
  • Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))

Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:

“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 2:36

Section 2:36-46

King Solomon had David’s enemy Shimei killed

2:36a Then the king summoned Shimei and said to him,

Then the king called/summoned Shimei to him. The king said to him,
-or-
Then King ⌊Solomon⌋ sent some people to get Shimei. Then he told Shimei to

2:36b “Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there,

“Build (sing) a house for yourself here in ⌊the city of⌋ Jerusalem. Live in it.
-or-
build himself a house in Jerusalem and stay there.

2:36c but do not go anywhere else.

Do not go (sing)out of the city⌋ to another place.
-or-

He warned Shimei⌋ not to leave the city to go anywhere else.

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