years (age)

In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).

Norm Mundhenk tells this story:

“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”

In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

See also advanced in years.

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 2 Chronicles 27:1

This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating Jotham’s age when he took over (twenty-five years old), the length of his reign (sixteen years), his capital (Jerusalem), and the name of his mother (Jerushah). His grandfather was Zadok. It is uncertain exactly which Zadok is intended here since at least ten people mentioned in the Old Testament had that name. Possibly he was the son of Ahitub (1 Chr 6.12) or the son of Meraioth (1 Chr 9.11). But his identity should not affect the translation.

It is not possible to establish an exact chronology for Jotham’s reign since the information given in this verse is contradicted by 2 Kgs 15.30 and 17.1. The sixteen years probably include the time when he ruled with his father Uzziah (about 750–742 B.C.) as well as when he ruled alone after his father’s death (about 742–735 B.C.). See 2 Chr 26.21.

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 .