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 Jeremiah 31:24

Judah and all its cities refers to the people (Good News Translation “People will live in Judah and in all its towns”).

There is the land, not the temple.

The verse is difficult to interpret, and there are at least two possibilities: (1) the inhabitants of the towns of Judah (the farmers) and those of the open country (the nomadic shepherds) will dwell together peaceably; (2) farmers and shepherds will live together in Judah and its villages. This second interpretation is quite common, and can be expressed with sentences such as:

• In this country, both in Judah and in all its towns, people will live together, both the farmers and the herdsmen with their flocks.

• All people, farmers and shepherds with their flocks alike, will live there in Judah and its towns together.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .