scepter

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “scepter” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “stick of ruling.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

Judah, Judea

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)


“Judah” and “Judea” 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 .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

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 (Psalm 108:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 108:8:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine as well;
    Ephraim is my protective hat,
    Judah is my rod of kingship.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “Gilead and Manasseh are both mine.
    Ephraim is protection for my head.
    Judah is my scepter.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “Gilead (is) mine as-well-as Manase.
    Efraim is-namely my defender
    and Juda is-namely my ruler.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “The land of Gilead is mine, and the land of Manasseh is mine.
    The land of Ephraim like my helmet,
    and the land of Judah is like my stick for ruling.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Nchi ya Gileadi ni yangu, pia ya Manase ni yangu,
    ya Efraimu iko kama vile kofia yangu ya chuma,
    na ya Yuda ni fimbo yangu ya enzi.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “The Gilead region is mine;
    the people of the tribe of Manasseh are mine; the tribe of Ephraim is like my war helmet,
    and the tribe of Judah is like the scepter/ stick that I hold which shows that I am the ruler;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Psalm 108:7 - 108:9

Except for verse 9c, verses 7-9 are exactly the same as 60.6-8.

In verse 7a Revised Standard Version has has promised, whereas it translates the same Hebrew text in 60.6a as “has spoken.” The translation should be the same in both passages.

In verse 9c the Hebrew has “I will shout over Philistia”; in 60.8 the Hebrew text is “Philistia will shout over me.” (Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not consider this difference between the two passages.) Good News Translation reflects the difference between the two passages, while Revised Standard Version has the same translation for the two.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .