Signing Savvy, Your Sign Language Resource

This article is part of a series, which answers sign questions from people who use Signing Savvy.

Answer:

There are so many layers here! The first problem in translation is that it has to be something that makes sense to a child.

The second is that this phrase is in the passive voice - it's the “mistakes were made,” rather than “I made a mistake.”

So, how would we interpret “mistakes were made”? I would sign SOMEONE MISTAKE or TRUE MISTAKE (as in yes, there were mistakes) or perhaps TRUE MISTAKE HAPPEN.

This is also one of my favorite verses in the Bible - I use it all the time as assurance for people who are in the hospital, hurt or broken... God made these amazing bodies that have enormous capacity to heal and fight for life.

I also love that this verse is used as the "proof text" for two traditionally oppositional groups - those who have pro-life convictions reference it as witness that the body is a precious creation, even as it is formed in the womb, and the LGBTQ+ community references it as witness that they are created whole and correct and perfectly and wonderfully, too.

Here it is in context:

Psalm 139:13-14

13 For you created my inmost being;
     you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
     your works are wonderful,
     I know that full well.

Verse 13 has its own translation challenges, but to focus on interpreting, not translating verse 14 in response to the question, I would combine 'fearfully' and 'wonderfully' by expanding WONDERFUL into MIRACLE (WONDER+WORK) and would sign MY BODY YOUR (to God) MIRACLE.

I don't know if that is a perfect answer, but as I continue to play with it, I like it.
 

Pastor Sue