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

See also Judah.

king

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Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
  • Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))

Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo was determined:

“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 15:22

King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah: The Hebrew verb translated made a proclamation is actually a causative form of the verb “to hear” with the meaning “caused himself to be heard.” People were called by public proclamation to perform public service. New International Version translates “issued an order,” while New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible use the verb “summoned.” The technical term “mustered” used by New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Anchor Bible correctly implies that the people of Judah were required to gather for the purpose of carrying out a specific action. Here they are called to carry away the building stones and lumber that King Baasha had brought to fortify Ramah. Good News Translation provides a good model here for some languages since it makes clear what Asa proclaimed by using the words “requiring everyone … to help….”

All Judah refers to all the people in the southern kingdom.

None was exempt: This expression highlights the fact that every able-bodied person in Judah was expected to participate in the transport of the stones and lumber. In some languages it may have to be translated as a separate sentence, for example, “Every person was required to help” or “No one could escape doing this work.”

With them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah: The Hebrew verb translated built may be rendered “fortified” here also, as in verse 17.

The location of the towns Geba and Mizpah has been debated among scholars, with some locating these two towns south of Ramah (see verse 17) and others locating them north of Ramah. Most archaeologists today locate them north of Ramah. Asa moved his own northern border about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) deeper into the territory of Benjamin.

The town of Geba is identified in the Old Testament as a town in the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18.24). Since 1838, Geba has been located by archaeologists as a site about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Jerusalem.

Mizpah is the name given to several different places in the Old Testament. The reference here is to the city located in the territory of Benjamin, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of Jerusalem. After the fall of Jerusalem in 587/586 B.C., Mizpah became the provincial capital of Judah (2 Kgs 25.23-25; Jer 40.7-12).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .