chariot

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated into English as “chariot” is translated into Anuak as “canoe pulled by horse.” “Canoe” is the general term for “vehicle” (source: Loren Bliese). Similarly it is translated in Lokạạ as ukwaa wạ nyanyang ntuuli or “canoe that is driven by horses.” (Source: J.A. Naudé, C.L. Miller Naudé, J.O. Obono in Acta Theologica 43/2, 2023, p. 129ff. )

In Eastern Highland Otomi it’s translated as “cart pulled by horses” (source: Larson 1998, p. 98) and in Chichicapan Zapotec as “ox cart” (in Acts 8). Ox carts are common vehicles for travel. (Source: Loren Bliese)

In Chichimeca-Jonaz, it is translated as “little house with two feet pulled by two horses” (source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.) and in the Hausa Common Language Ajami Bible as keken-doki or “cart of donkey” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

It is illustrated for use in Bible translations in East Africa by Pioneer Bible Translators like this:

Image owned by PBT and Jonathan McDaniel and licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

See also cart.

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 2 Chronicles 35:24

So renders the common Hebrew conjunction as a logical connector. But many versions do not translate this conjunction here (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

His servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot …: For chariot see the comments on 1 Chr 18.4 and 2 Chr 1.14. Moffatt renders his second chariot as “his reserve chariot” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible). This second chariot was probably larger and better suited for a retreat carrying a wounded passenger, while the first would have been smaller with room for only one person actively engaged in fighting. The Hebrew word rendered second may also be understood as referring to King Josiah’s officer who was “second-in-command,” rather than to his second chariot. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, for example, renders his second chariot as “the wagon of his second-in-command,” and Revised English Bible says “his viceroy’s chariot.”

And he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers: The passive verb was buried may be made active by saying “they [indefinite] buried him” or “his people buried him.” The tombs of his fathers may be rendered “the tombs of his ancestors” (God’s Word) or simply “the royal tombs” (Good News Translation).

All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah: See Jer 22.10. All Judah and Jerusalem may be rendered “All the people of Jerusalem and the rest of Judah.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .