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 Joel 3:6

You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border: The attackers from Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia had carried away captives from Judah and sold them as slaves to the Greeks, who lived far to the northwest. This added to the indignity of slavery the fact that they were far from Jerusalem, completely removed from their homeland. The people of Judah and Jerusalem is literally “the sons of….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “The young men of….” However, the rendering of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation for this phrase is better. Far from their own border may be translated “far from their homeland” or “far from their fathers’ land [or, house/home].”

Quoted with permission from de Blois, Kees & Dorn, Louis. A Handbook on Joel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .