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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 3:13

The first word in the Hebrew of this verse is the one translated also. In some cases it may be better translated “In addition to this…” or “What is more…” (Revised English Bible). It introduces other gifts that God decided to give to Solomon in addition to the wisdom that he had requested.

Riches: See the comment on this noun in verse 11.

Honor renders a Hebrew noun that may be translated “respect,” “honor,” “glory” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or “distinction.” In this context, of course, the English word “glory” does not mean something shiny but rather “receiving respect and honor from other people.”

No other king shall compare with you is literally “there shall not be like you a man among kings.” In a number of languages it will be necessary to specify the basis of comparison or lack of comparison. The context makes it clear that the comparison involves wealth and honor. Some other ways of saying this are “no king on earth will have as much wealth and esteem as you will have” and “you will be richer and more respected than any other king.”

The words all your days are not in the Septuagint, which is followed by New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the longer reading of the Masoretic Text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament notes that it is strange to find the words all your days at the very end of the verse. We would expect the last half of the verse to say “both riches and honor all your days, so that no other king shall compare with you”; and this is, indeed, the text that New Revised Standard Version follows. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests, however, that the words all your days come at the end so that no other king may be understood to refer to all kings who have come before Solomon, as well as those who rule other kingdoms at the same time that he does. The Hebrew verb here supports this understanding. Compare Contemporary English Version: “You’ll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you’ll be greater than any other king.” This leaves open the possibility that kings of all times are included.

The interpretation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament is most likely correct, but it is also possible that the comparison is intended to refer only to other kings ruling at the same time as Solomon. For the whole verse compare “What is more, I give you those things for which you did not ask, such wealth and glory as no king of your time can match” (Revised English Bible) and “… I give you both riches and honor, that there will not be any king like you during your lifetime” (Anchor Bible). See also New Century Version, which has “I will also give you what you did not ask for: riches and honor. During your life no other king will be as great as you.”

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 .