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 (Micah 1:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Micah 1:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is like that since the plagues/wounds of Samaria will not be healed/cured
    and (they/it) shall also reach to Judah.
    (It) shall pass over even to the gates of Jerusalem
    that city where my people are.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Samaria’s wounds cannot be healed. and their wound has reached Judah,
    it has reached the gates of Jerusalem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For the destruction of Samaria seems like a wound that can- no-longer -be-healed, and this will- also -happen to Juda. This-(destruction) will-reach Jerusalem, the capital city of my fellowmen/countrymen.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Micah 1:9

In verse 9 the punishment of the people of Samaria is pictured as wounds that cannot be healed. A similar picture is used in Isa 1.5-6. In the expression “her wound” at the beginning of verse 9 (Revised Standard Version), “her” is taken by some commentators to refer to Jerusalem. However, the picture of spreading infection is more clear if the “her” refers to Samaria. This is the way Good News Translation understands it. The wound is the punishment sent by the Lord as described in the preceding verses. In some versions it is translated as a “blow” struck by the Lord (Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible).

This wound cannot be healed. The picture means that the destruction of Samaria is complete, as described in verse 6, and there is no hope for it to be built again or for the people to recover from their punishment.

The “it has come to Judah” of Revised Standard Version continues the metaphor, but in Good News Translation it is expressed in plain language as Judah is about to suffer in the same way. The expression “come to” may be intended to bring to mind the idea of a flood spreading over the land. Compare the use of the same expression in Psa 69.1.

About to suffer in the same way means that the terrible things that have happened to Samaria are about to happen to the southern kingdom of Judah. It may be expressed as “the same punishment is about to happen to Judah.” In fact it sounds as though the enemies are already in Judah, because they have reached the gates of Jerusalem itself. Jerusalem was not geographically in the center of the country. In fact it was near the northern border. However, it was the main town of the country, and if it were captured by the enemy, the whole country would be defeated.

The gates of the city are not only the place of entrance but also the center of business, legal, and social life. See for instance Ruth 4.1, 11; Psa 127.5; Amos 5.10, 12, 15. When Jerusalem is spoken of as “the gate of my people” (Revised Standard Version), this is a picture of the capital city as the center and focus of national life. Gates can be translated as “doors in the wall that surrounds the city.” They were of course strong doors that could be closed to keep the enemy out. When the enemy reached the gates, Jerusalem was in great danger of being conquered. In many languages the word “gate” would not convey the idea of the center of social life, and in such languages it may be necessary to translate as “destruction has reached Jerusalem itself, the main center where my people live.”

Jerusalem was not Micah’s own home town, so his reference to my people does not mean his immediate relatives. It is used in a broader sense, including all of his countrymen, but especially those who were suffering because of all the evil that was being done by the leaders (see 3.3, 5).

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on Micah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .