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 .

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 (Jeremiah 5:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 5:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Listen please, you people who are stupid and confused
    you have eyes and do not see
    and you have ears and do not hear.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “You (plur.) listen to this, you (plur.) who are foolish and senseless people. You (plur.) have eyes but you (plur.) can- not -see, have ears but can- not -hear.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Listen to this, you people who are foolish and who do not have any sense:
    You have eyes, but it is as though you cannot see;
    you have ears, but it is as though you cannot hear.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 5:21

Good News Translation renders Hear this as “Pay attention,” which expresses the meaning clearly. “Listen to what I have to say” is also good.

Foolish translates the word rendered “stupid” by Revised Standard Version in 4.22. Senseless translates the Hebrew idiom “without heart.” It should be recalled that in Hebrew the “heart” most frequently signifies the center of thought or will, rather than of emotion. See verse 24.

Who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not: The two parallel lines are somewhat abbreviated by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, “You have eyes and ears, but you see and hear nothing.”

Many translators make this verse two sentences:

• Pay attention, you stupid and senseless people. You have eyes, but you can’t see, and you have ears, but you can’t hear.

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 .