Ephraim

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Ephraim” 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 .

For Deborah, see here.

More information about Ephraim and the Tribe of Ephraim .

Aaron

The name that is transliterated as “Aaron” in English means “light,” “a mountain of strength” “to be high.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Catalan Sign Language and Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “stones on chest plate” (according to Exodus 28:15-30) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Aaron” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Colombian Sign Language, Honduras Sign Language, and American Sign Language, the chest plate is outlined (in ASL it is outlined using the letter “A”):


“Aaron” in ASL (source )

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 Moses, more information on Aaron , and this lectionary in The Christian Century .

complete verse (Joshua 24:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Joshua 24:33:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, Eleazar son of Aaron died. He was buried in the city of Gibeah in the highland of Ephraim which had been given to his son Phinehas.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Eleazar, the son of Aaron also died and they buried him at Gibeah, the city that had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Eleazar the child/(son) of Aaron also died and was-buried in Gibea, the town/city in the mountains of Efraim, which was-given to the child/(son) of Eleazar who-(is) Finehas.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Eleazar, the Supreme Priest, the son of Aaron, also died. They buried his body at Gibeah, in the area that had been given to Eleazar’s son Phinehas, in the hilly area that belonged to the people who were descendants of Ephraim.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Joshua 24:33

Nothing definite is known of the location of Gibeah. Instead of being a proper name, the Hebrew word could be the common noun “hill” (so King James Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New English Bible, New American Bible). For Phinehas see 22.13-14.

Was buried at Gibeah may be shifted to an active verb phrase with the subject expressly indicated: “When Eleazar son of Aaron died, the people of Israel buried him at the town of Gibeah. This town was in the hill country of Ephraim, and it belonged to his son Phinehas.” Or, following the other interpretation. “When Eleazar son of Aaron died, the people of Israel buried his body in one of the hills in the hill country of Ephraim. This hill belonged to Eleazar’s son Phinehas.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Joshua 24:33

24:33a

The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated but some English versions translate as “and” introduces the next event in the storyline. Introduce the next event in a way that is natural in your language.

Eleazar son of Aaron also died: Eleazar was a priest. He was last mentioned in Joshua 21:1.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Later, Eleazar ⌊the priest⌋ the son of Aaron died.
-or-
Some time later, Eleazar died. He was a son of Aaron.

24:33b

and: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and introduces the next event in the storyline.

they buried him at Gibeah: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Gibeah is the name of a town, and is also a noun meaning “hill.” The English versions do not agree on how to translate it in this context.

(1) It is the name of a town. For example:

and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son (English Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It is a noun that means “hill.” For example:

and they buried him on the hill of his son Phinehas (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you choose interpretation (1). This is the interpretation taken by many English versions.

The location of Gibeah is uncertain, except that it was in the hill country of Ephraim. It belonged to Phinehas.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

The Israelites buried him at Gibeah, which belonged to his son Phinehas.
-or-
The people of Israel buried Eleazar in the town of Gibeah. That town had been given to his son Phinehas.

24:33c

which had been given to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim: Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

It was in the mountain country that belonged to the clan of Ephraim.
-or-
And it was in the hilly region of the clan of Ephraim.