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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 15:20

Ben-hadad hearkened to King Asa: Hearkened is a somewhat archaic verb rendered as “listened” by New Revised Standard Version. But this may be misleading since “listen” does not necessarily imply agreement. New Jerusalem Bible has “listened favourably.” Since the following actions indicate that Benhadad also accepted the idea of King Asa, it may be better to translate “… agreed with King Asa” (New International Version, New American Bible) or “… did what Asa asked” (Contemporary English Version).

Sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel: Revised Standard Version reflects the form of the Hebrew by saying sent … against. In this context a verb such as “attack” (Good News Translation, Moffatt) may be appropriate.

The commanders of his armies is translated “his generals” by Moffatt.

In Hebrew the verb translated conquered is singular. The ancient versions have a plural verb here, as in 2 Chr 16.4. In Hebrew the focus is on Ben-hadad, but clearly he did not conquer these cities by himself. Like the ancient versions, therefore, Good News Translation says “They captured.”

The places named here in verse 20 are all in northern Israel. Ijon, Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah were towns and may be identified as such in translation (so Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). For Dan see 1 Kgs 4.25. Chinneroth, also spelled “Chinnereth,” was a town located on the northwest shore of Lake Galilee. This lake is called Lake Chinnereth in the Old Testament. The words all Chinneroth probably refer to the town, the lake, and the plain south of the town. Since the name Lake Galilee is better known than Chinneroth in English, Good News Translation says “the area near Lake Galilee.” New Century Version adopts a similar solution. Lake Galilee was located in the southeast corner of the territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali.

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 .