Bethlehem

The town name that is transliterated as “Bethlehem” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the signs signifying “manger + town” (referring to Luke 2:7). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Bethlehem” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

See also manger.

In American Sign Language it is translated with the signs for “bread” and “house,” referring to the original meaning of “Bethlehem” as “house of bread.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Bethlehem” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Likewise in Hungarian Sign Language:


“Bethlehem” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Bethlehem .

complete verse (Nehemiah 7:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 7:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people of Bethlehem and those of Netophah were 188” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the number of the people whose ancestors lived in this following towns:
    Betlehem and Netofa 188
    Anatot 128
    Bet Azmavet 42
    Kiryat Jerim, Cafira, and Beerot 743
    Rama and Geba 621
    Micmash 122
    Betel and Ai 123
    Nebo 52
    Elam 1,254
    Harim 320
    Jerico 345
    Lod, Hadid, and Ono 721
    Senaa 3,930” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Men whose ancestors had lived in these towns also returned:
    188 men from Bethlehem and Netophah” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 7:26 - 7:38

For these verses refer to Ezra 2.21-35.

In verse 28 Bethazmaveth replaces “Azmaveth” in Ezra 2.24. It means “house of Azmaveth” and is written as one word by Revised Standard Version as in the Septuagint. In verse 29 Kiriathjearim takes the place of “Kiriatharim” in Ezra 2.25. Verse 33 refers to the other Nebo, whereas Ezra 2.29 only has “Nebo.” Some commentators believe that the Hebrew word translated the other does not belong here, but perhaps has been copied from verse 34. Nevertheless, most translations retain the other as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done, or they render it as “another” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Translators are advised to do likewise. The place of “Magbish” in Ezra 2.30 is missing in this list.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .