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.

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)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 6:12

But now I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem: He remembered his treatment of the Jews and thought it was the cause of his own present suffering. An alternative rendering is “But now I can’t forget the terrible things I did in Jerusalem.”

I seized all her vessels of silver and gold: See 1Macc 1.21-23.

And I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without good reason: He sent orders for the Jews to be killed even though there was no justification for doing it (see 1Macc 1.41-61). Alternative models are “and I sent soldiers to destroy the people of Judea without any good reason” and “and I had no good reason when I sent soldiers to destroy the people of Judea.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.