king

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Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
  • Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))

Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo was determined:

“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 1:21

Otherwise it will come to pass: The common conjunction is joined to a form of the verb “to be” in Hebrew to form this transitional expression. The meaning is “Otherwise the result will be that…” (Moffatt) or “If this is not done…” (New American Bible); that is, if David fails to announce that Solomon is to be the new king before his death…. When a king died without having informed the people of his choice of successor, the oldest surviving son would automatically be considered the new king. In this case, that would be Adonijah.

Sleeps with his fathers is literally “lies down with his fathers.” This is a common Old Testament euphemism meaning “to die.” It occurs numerous times in 1 Kings (for example, 11.43; 14.20, 31). This idiomatic expression refers to burial in a place that is physically close to the dead person’s parents, grandparents and other forbears. If there is no corresponding idiom in the receptor language, it will be best to translate the meaning; for example, “buried with your ancestors.” Some languages have a special word for “to die” when royalty is involved.

I and my son Solomon: Languages differ as to whether a speaker mentions himself or herself first or last in such a statement. In Hebrew it is quite natural to begin with the first person singular pronoun, “I.” But in English this is considered impolite. For this reason Good News Translation and many other modern English versions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version) reverse the order and say “Solomon and I.” Translators should use whichever order is most natural in the receptor language.

Will be counted offenders is literally “will be sinful [or, guilty].” The sense in this context is that if Adonijah becomes king, Bathsheba and Solomon will be treated as if they deserve to be punished for not having supported the new king. Compare “will be treated as criminals” (Revised English Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation) or, perhaps better, “will be regarded as traitors” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh; similarly Good News Translation). Bathsheba’s words should be understood as a euphemism, meaning that she and Solomon will be killed. In this context “sinful” has a political connotation and not a theological or moral connotation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .