messenger

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 .

complete verse (Judges 7:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 7:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “He also sent mouth/message to all the people from the hills of Ephraim to come to the battle. He told them to block/obstruct the Midianites from Beth-barah to the river Jordan. The people of Ephraim did like that.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Gideon sent messengers all over the hill country of Ephraim speaking like this — "Come down and do battle with the Midianites. And conquer their Jordan river crossings up to the Jordan river and Beth-barah."
    So all Ephraim was summoned and they took the Jordan river crossings up to Beth-barah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Gideon also sent messengers to the residents of the mountains of Efraim to tell them that they were-to-take-watch at the River of Jordan up-to the stream of Bet Bara so-that the Midianhon could- not -cross-over. This was-fulfilled/obeyed by all the men of Efraim and they took-watch/guarded at those places.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He also sent messengers throughout the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim lived, saying, ‘Come down to attack the army of Midian. Come down to the Jordan River, to the place where people can wade across, to prevent enemy troops from crossing it! Station men as far south as Beth-Barah.’
    So the men of Ephraim did what Gideon told them to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Jordan

The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jordan River .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Judges 7:24

7:24a Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim to say,

Gideon sent men all over the hill country where the Ephraim clan lived.
-or-
Gideon sent messengers throughout the hills where the descendants of Ephraim lived.

7:24b “Come down against the Midianites

They said, “Come down and help us fight the Midian soldiers.
-or-
They told them to come down to cut off the retreat of the Midian soldiers.

7:24c and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah.”

Take the places ⌊where they can cross⌋ the Jordan River as far as Beth Barah town.”
-or-
They were to guard the Jordan River as far as Beth Barah town ⌊and not let the Midian soldiers cross it⌋ .

7:24d So all the men of Ephraim were called out,

So all the men of Ephraim gathered together
-or-
So all the men of the clan of Ephraim came out.

7:24e and they captured the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah.

and took the places ⌊where one can cross⌋ the Jordan River as far as Beth Barah town.
-or-
They guarded the Jordan River as far as Beth Barah town ⌊and did not let the Midian soldiers cross it⌋ .

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