village

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “village” or “town” in English is translated in Noongar as karlamaya or “fire (used for “home“) + houses” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 7:46

And men came out of all the villages of Judea round about: Instead of men (literally “they”), Good News Bible has “people.” However, in this case men is better, since the attackers presumably were all men. We may also translate “their fellow Jews.” For villages see the comments on 1Macc 5.8. The villages of Judea round about refers to the villages that were along the route by which the enemy was fleeing. Good News Bible says “the surrounding villages of Judea,” and Contemporary English Version has “nearby villages of Judea.” Both these models are helpful.

And they outflanked the enemy: The military tactic involved here is clearly described in Good News Bible as “and attacked the fleeing enemy from the sides.” As the enemy retreated in disorder eastward toward Gezer, pursued by Judas’ men, Jews from all the towns nearby attacked the Syrians from the north and from the south.

And drove them back to their pursuers: The Syrians could not reach Gezer, and had nowhere to go but backward toward Judas and his army. The Jews in the nearby towns who were attacking the Syrians forced them to turn back toward the pursuing Jewish army of Judas, so this clause may be rendered “forced them back toward Judas and his soldiers.”

So that they all fell by the sword; not even one of them was left: The first clause here will be translated in many languages as “so that they were all killed.” The final clause is repetitious, saying the same thing as the previous one. In some languages this repetition will be natural style; for example, “so that they were all killed; not one of them was left alive.” But in other languages the repetition will be unnatural.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Their fellow Jews came out of all the nearby villages, and attacked the fleeing enemy from the sides. They forced them back toward Judas and his soldiers. All of the enemy were killed—not one was left alive.

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.