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 44:14

Verse 14 largely restates what is in verse 12. However, in place of the positive expressions there, “they shall fall” and “they shall die,” here the verbs are negative, none … shall escape or survive or return.

Except some fugitives: This shows quite clearly that when Hebrew uses terms such as none or “all,” they are not always absolute in their meaning. But some is clearly meant to be just a small number, “a few” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). Good News Translation renders fugitives as “refugees.” Translators should use a word or expression in their language that refers to those who have fled and escaped.

Good News Translation and a number of other common language translations introduce a new sentence with verse 14; for example, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has:

• No one will escape or survive. No one will return to Judah even though they want to go and live there again. Only a few will escape and return there.

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 .