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 .

Abijah / Abijam

The name that is transliterated as “Abijah” or “Abijam” in English means “God my Father” (Abijah) or “father of the sea,” “father of light (Abijam). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel fighting 1 Kings 15:6 and following). The V-shaped hand also means that the heart is not upright and does the opposite (see 1 Kings 15:3). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Abijah / Abijam” in Libras (source )

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

complete verse (2 Chronicles 13:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 13:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “Abijah became king of Judah in the eighteenth year from when Jeroboam came to rule Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In the 18th year since Jeroboam became king of Israel Abijah became king of Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Abia became king of Juda in the 18th year of the reign of Jeroboam in Israel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Jeroboam had been ruling Israel for almost 18 years, Abijah became the king of Judah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

king

Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
  • Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))

Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:

“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:1

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam Abijah began to reign over Judah: As happens frequently in the books of 1-2 Kings, here the beginning of the reign of the king of Judah is dated by the number of the year of the king of Israel. It was after Jeroboam had ruled over Israel for eighteen years that Abijah started to rule over Judah, which was around 913 B.C. This means that Abijah became king of Judah eighteen years after the northern kingdom separated from the southern kingdom. Since this is the beginning of a new chapter and a new section, some translations identify Jeroboam more completely as the king of Israel (so Good News Translation). Began to reign is literally “reigned.” Revised Standard Version supplies the verb began, which is appropriate in this context. Another acceptable rendering is “became king” (Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur).

It may be more natural in some languages to change the order of information given in this verse; for example, New Century Version has “Abijah became the king of Judah during the eighteenth year Jeroboam was king of Israel.” Another possible model is:

• Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .