village

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “village” or “town” in English is translated in Noongar as karlamaya or “fire (used for “home“) + houses” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Elhomwe it is typically translated as “place.” “Here in Malawi, villages very small, so changed to ‘places,’ since not sure whether biblical reference just to small villages or also to bigger towns. (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

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

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

In Cherokee it is either translated as “the one(s) who reprimand(s) you” or “the one(s) feared.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 47)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 7:46

And men came out of all the villages of Judea round about: Instead of men (literally “they”), Good News Bible has “people.” However, in this case men is better, since the attackers presumably were all men. We may also translate “their fellow Jews.” For villages see the comments on 1Macc 5.8. The villages of Judea round about refers to the villages that were along the route by which the enemy was fleeing. Good News Bible says “the surrounding villages of Judea,” and Contemporary English Version has “nearby villages of Judea.” Both these models are helpful.

And they outflanked the enemy: The military tactic involved here is clearly described in Good News Bible as “and attacked the fleeing enemy from the sides.” As the enemy retreated in disorder eastward toward Gezer, pursued by Judas’ men, Jews from all the towns nearby attacked the Syrians from the north and from the south.

And drove them back to their pursuers: The Syrians could not reach Gezer, and had nowhere to go but backward toward Judas and his army. The Jews in the nearby towns who were attacking the Syrians forced them to turn back toward the pursuing Jewish army of Judas, so this clause may be rendered “forced them back toward Judas and his soldiers.”

So that they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left: The first clause here will be translated in many languages as “so that they were all killed.” The final clause is repetitious, saying the same thing as the previous one. In some languages this repetition will be natural style; for example, “so that they were all killed; not one of them was left alive.” But in other languages the repetition will be unnatural.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Their fellow Jews came out of all the nearby villages, and attacked the fleeing enemy from the sides. They forced them back toward Judas and his soldiers. All of the enemy were killed—not one was left alive.

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.