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 .

Chaldean

The name that is transliterated as “Chaldean” in English means “astrologer,” “wanderers.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with the sign that combines “Mesopotamia” (see here) and “spreading out,” since the Chaldeans originated in southern Mesopotamia and spread out from there. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Chaldean” in Libras (source )

More information about Chaldea .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

army

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

complete verse (Jeremiah 52:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 52:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “The soldiers of Babylon who came with Nebuzaradan overturned the wall that surrounded that city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In his reigning the soldiers of Babilonia destroyed the walls that surround Jerusalem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he supervised the soldiers from Babylonia while they tore down the walls on all sides of Jerusalem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 52:14

For this verse, see the last part of 39.8.

The Chaldeans; that is, “the Babylonians.” See verse 7 and 21.4.

Here Nebuzaradan is referred to as the captain of the guard. See 39.9. It might be more natural to use his name or just the pronoun “his” as in Good News Translation. All the army … the guard could then be expressed as “the soldiers with him” or “his soldiers” (Good News Translation).

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 .