Jeremiah

The name that is transliterated as “Jeremiah” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign signifying “prophet (seeing into the future)” and “crying.” (Source: Phil King in Journal of Translation 16/2 2020, p. 33ff.)


“Jeremiah” in American Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts to lament often.


“Jeremiah” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jeremiah .

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 (Jeremiah 38:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 38:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Ebed-melek told me, ‘Wrap those rags at your armpits, and then tie yourself with the rope passing on top of those rags so that the ropes do not cut you.’ I did like that” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Ebed Melec said to Jeremias, ‘Put the worn-out-clothes under your armpit so that you would not be hurt with the rope.’ Jeremias did so,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Ebed-Melech called down to me, ‘Put these rags underneath your armpits, to protect you from being injured by the ropes!’ So I did that.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 38:12

Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes: Good News Translation “so that the ropes wouldn’t hurt me” and New Jerusalem Bible (followed by New International Version) “to pad the ropes” include the reason for Ebedmelech’s instructions to Jeremiah.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .