solid / inflexible

In Gbaya, the notion of something solid or in an inflexible position (including the “plaster” in Sirach 22:17) is emphasized with ngeraa, an ideophone that expresses something solid, compact; in an inflexible position.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

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 .

sanctuary

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is translated as “sanctuary” in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) with opatulika or “separated place.” This is understood in a religious setup as a place designated for worship. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 6:26

And behold, today they have encamped against the citadel in Jerusalem to take it: The renegade Jews are not saying that the action in Jerusalem began that day, but rather that the siege was going on as they spoke. New English Bible renders And behold, today as “At this very moment,” which is good. For this whole clause we could say “At this very moment they are surrounding the fort in Jerusalem and are planning to take [or, capture] it.”

They have fortified both the sanctuary and Beth-zur: See 1Macc 4.60-61. Good News Bible‘s model is helpful.

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.