blaspheme, blasphemy

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin that is translated as “blasphemy” or “blaspheme” is translated in various forms:

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

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 Maccabees 2:6

We recommend beginning a new paragraph here, as in Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version.

He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem: This does not mean that Mattathias actually saw any of these things with his own eyes, but rather that he learned or “found out” (Contemporary English Version) about them. The blasphemies refers to the profane events described in 1Macc 1.41-61. Alternative models for this verse are:

• Mattathias heard about all the things being done in Jerusalem and [the rest of] Judah against their religion [or, the Law of Moses].

• Mattathias learned [or, found out] about what people were doing in Jerusalem and in [the rest of] Judea against the Jewish religion.

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.