obedience / obey

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, and Greek that is translated in English typically as “obedience” or “obey” is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “thing hearing.” “For to hear is to obey.” (Source: Marjorie Davis in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 34ff. )

In Huba it is translated as hya nǝu nyacha: “follow (his) mouth.” (Source: David Frank in this blog post )

In Central Mazahua it is translated as “listen-obey” and in Huehuetla Tepehua as “believe-obey” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), and in Noongar as dwangka-don, lit. “hear do” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also disobedience.

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

See also Judah.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 1:24

What shall I do to you, O Jacob? You would not obey me, O Judah: The name Jacob refers to the people of Israel, as it often does in the Old Testament (see, for example, Psa 14.7; Isa 9.8), since Israel was another name of Jacob in Genesis (Gen 32.28). By addressing his audience as Jacob and Judah, God is addressing the whole nation. We suggest combining the first two clauses as follows: “People of Israel and Judah, you have refused to obey me, so here is what I will do” or “What shall I do with you, people of Israel and Judah? You refused to obey me” (Contemporary English Version). What shall I do to you…? is a rhetorical question, which the first model above renders as a statement.

I will turn to other nations and will give them my name, that they may keep my statutes: Nowhere in the Old Testament is it ever said that God will turn away from his own people to others. This passage shows the Christian influence on the first two chapters of 2 Esdras, since the writer is clearly referring to Christians here (compare Matt 21.43; Acts 13.46). Will give them my name means God will make these other nations his people. At the burning bush God revealed to Moses, and so to all Israel, his name, thus making Israel his special people (see Exo 3.13-15). This sentence may be rendered “and so I will turn to other nations and make them my people. And they will obey my laws” (Contemporary English Version) or simply “I will reveal my name to other nations [or, to the people of other nations], and they will obey my Law.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• People of Israel and Judah, you have refused to obey me, so here is what I will do. I will make other nations my people, and they will keep my laws.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.