1 Meqabyan (also known as 1 Ethiopian Maccabees and 1 Ethiopic Maccabees) is canonical scripture for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. While “Meqabyan” is the Ge’ez equivalent of “Maccabees,” the content is completely different from 1 Maccabees. The only complete copies of 1 Meqabyan are available in Ge’ez (Classical Ethiopic), here used with permission by the Bible Society of Ethiopia.
The translation into English was provided by Haileyesus Woldemariam (UBS).
The term that is transliterated as “Goliath” in English means “exile,” “soothsayer,” “taken captive.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a finger pointing to the forehead (a reference to where the stone hit him) followed by the sign for “tall” referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 1 Samuel 17:4. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Goliath” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The name that is transliterated as “Samson” in English means “a little sun,” “splendid sun” (i.e., great joy and felicity), “like the sun,” “distinguished,” “strong,” “a perfect servant.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “headband” referring to his long hair and likely use of a headband. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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