son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

Jericho

The name that is transliterated in English as “Jericho” means “city of the moon,” “a fragrant place.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that alludes to the walls of Jericho coming tumbling down (see Joshua 6:20). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jericho” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Jericho,” the second parts refer to “town” (source )

See also The Fall of Jericho.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jericho .

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 16:11

Now Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed governor over the plain of Jericho: The Greek does not say that Simon had appointed Ptolemy governor, as Good News Bible has it, but it is clearly implied. Verses 11-12 give reasons why the treacherous Ptolemy should have been grateful to Simon. So Good News Bible is correct in making Simon the subject of an active verb here. (It also brings the title “High Priest” forward from verse 12.) The Greek word for governor refers to a military commander, so it is better rendered “commander” (Good News Bible; see the comments on 1Macc 10.65, where it is translated “general”). Good News Bible and New Jerusalem Bible capitalize plain to indicate that “the Plain of Jericho” is a particular administrative area. This works well, but governor over the plain of Jericho may be rendered simply “commander of the area around Jericho.” For Jericho see 1Macc 9.50.

And he had much silver and gold: Good News Bible says simply “Ptolemy was very rich,” which is quite adequate. The statement should be connected with the next verse, as both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible do.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.