take root

The now commonly-used English idiom “take root” (for becoming firmly fixed or established) was first coined in 1560 in the Geneva Bible (in the spelling take roote). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 274)

For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

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 .

complete verse (Isaiah 37:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 37:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people who have remained from the house of Judah shall multiply like a tree that pushes its roots to go down and makes fruits above.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And the surviving clans of Judah,
    taking root in the land below, will bear fruit in the land above.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Again, those who are left alive in Juda will-prosper like a plant that takes-root deeply and bear-fruit.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And you people who are still here in Judah,
    will be strong and prosper again.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 37:31

In this verse the prophet includes in the sign an additional promise to Judah. Just as the crops will grow, so will those remaining in Judah. Judah as a nation had been “uprooted” by the Assyrian assault, but it will grow roots again and reestablish itself.

The connector And introduces the additional promise here, but most versions omit it.

The surviving remnant of the house of Judah follows the Hebrew text closely. It uses two important terms related to the idea of survival. The Hebrew word for surviving refers to people who escape from a bad situation, and the word for remnant to those who remain after some crisis. For these two words see the comments on 10.20. Since surviving remnant is a redundant expression, some languages may prefer to say simply “survivors.” The house of Judah refers to the people from the southern kingdom of Judah (see the comments on 22.21). Again take root downward, and bear fruit upward means they will reestablish themselves and flourish. In translation this agricultural imagery may not always be meaningful. Good News Translation provides a helpful model by expressing it as a simile: “will flourish like plants that send roots deep into the ground and produce fruit.” Unfortunately, Good News Translation omits the idea of again, which renders the Hebrew verb meaning “to do again.” A model that keeps it is “will again be like plants with deep roots that can produce a lot of fruit [or, crops].”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Those who survive in Judah will once more, like a plant, have deep roots and produce fruit.

• Survivors of Judah will once again have deep roots and produce fruit like a plant.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .