clothes

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated with “clothes” or similar in English is translated in Enlhet as “crawling-in-stuff” (source: Jacob Loewen in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 169ff. ) and in Noongar as bwoka or “Kangaroo skin” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 2 Chronicles 23:13

And when she looked, there was the king is literally “and she looked, and, behold, the king” (Jewish Publication Version). The Hebrew text does not have the verb was, but it contains the focusing particle to draw attention to the presence of the new king, who was in fact a rival to Queen Athaliah. This particle serves to dramatize Athaliah’s initial awareness of the presence of Joash in the position of royal power. Translators will find similar ways in their own language to heighten the drama of the account at this point. Since Joash had just been proclaimed king, Good News Translation and Bible en français courant render the king as “the new king.” Another possible rendering is “Joash, who had just been crowned king.”

Standing by his pillar at the entrance: His pillar probably refers either to the one named Jachin or the one named Boaz at the Temple entrance (see 2 Chr 3.15-17).

And the captains and the trumpeters beside the king: Captains renders the same Hebrew word translated “commanders” in verse 1 (see the comments there). This word may be rendered “leaders of the soldiers” or “military commanders.” Good News Translation says “army officers.” Revised English Bible follows the Septuagint and the Vulgate of the parallel passage in 2 Kgs 11.14 by saying “outbursts of song,” but this reading is not recommended. The trumpeters may be rendered “the people playing/blowing the trumpets” or “the trumpet players” (Contemporary English Version). For “trumpet” see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8.

And all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets: According to some commentators, all the people of the land refers to a distinct social group in the kingdom of Judah. As a group they apparently held a certain authority in matters related to royal appointments and crowning of kings. In the book of Jeremiah they are listed along with groups like the kings of Judah and its princes and its priests (Jer 1.18; 34.19; 44.21). Probably a note will be required to explain that this expression refers to a particular group and not to people in general. The same phrase is repeated in verses 20 and 21.

And the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration: The singers refers to the Temple musicians, who were Levites (see 1 Chr 25 and the comments on 1 Chr 6.33).

And Athaliah rent her clothes: Usually the tearing of clothing is a sign of extreme sorrow at the time of the death of a beloved person (2 Sam 13.31) or a leader (2 Sam 1.11) or at the time of some other great calamity (2 Kgs 6.30). But here it shows Athaliah’s great anguish over the fact that someone else had been made ruler of Judah in her place. In languages where this gesture is not practiced as a sign of grief, it may be necessary to supply this information in translation by adding “in despair” (New Living Translation) or “in distress” (Good News Translation).

And cried is literally “and said.” The verb here is better rendered “shouted” (Good News Translation) or “screamed” (New Century Version).

Treason! Treason!: This cry of Queen Athaliah uses the same Hebrew root word that is translated “conspiracy” in the stories of Absalom (2 Sam 15.12) and of Zimri (1 Kgs 16.20). Athaliah considered herself the rightful ruler of Judah and felt that her authority had been illegally taken from her and given to another person. Some will be able to reflect the form of the original text by translating with a noun meaning “plot,” “maneuver” or “intrigue” repeated twice. But others may require a clause such as “They have taken my power!” or “They have dethroned me!” La Bible du Semeur translates “It’s a conspiracy! It’s a conspiracy!” Contemporary English Version has “You betrayed me, you traitors.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .