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.

Amon

The name that is transliterated as “Amon” in English means “nourisher,” “nurse,” “multitude,” “faithful,” “workman.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts forsaking God and blasphemy, because “he was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done” (2 Kings 21:20). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Amon” in Libras (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see this article in Christianity Today .

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 .

complete verse (2 Chronicles 33:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 33:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Amon had twenty-two years when he started to rule the country of Judah. He ruled in the city of Jerusalem two years.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He reigned 2 years in Jerusalem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Amon was 22 years old when he became king. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned for two years.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Amon was 22 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for two years.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 33:21

Section 33:21-25

King Amon was king of Judah

33:21a Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king,

Amon became the king when he was twenty-two years old,
-or-
Amon was twenty-two (22) years old when he became king ⌊of Judah⌋.

33:21b and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.

and he ruled in Jerusalem for two years.
-or-
He became king in Jerusalem and he ruled for two (2) years.

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