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)
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:
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 7:17:
Kupsabiny: “Oh yes, do you not see what these people are doing in the cities of Judah and on the roads of Jerusalem?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Have- you (plur.) not -seen what they are doing in the towns of Juda and in the roads of Jerusalem?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Do you see the wicked things that they are doing in the streets of Jerusalem and in the other towns in Judah?” (Source: Translation for Translators)
A negative rhetorical question (Do you not see…?) is difficult for many readers. A shift may be made to either a statement, such as “You yourself can see…,” or a command, as in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “See for yourself how they are acting in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem!”
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 .
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