Nebuchadnezzar

The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Nebuchadnezzar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

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 36:6

Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Revised Standard Version‘s literal structure here may be awkward if imitated in other languages. It may be much more natural to adopt a structure like that of Good News Translation. Against him came up may be better rendered “attacked him” (New International Version) or “made war against him” (La Bible du Semeur). Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylonia for forty-three years (605–562 B.C.). King of Babylon refers not just to his kingship over the city of Babylon, but the entire territory of Babylonia. In this clause Babylon is better rendered “Babylonia” (Good News Translation; see the comments on 1 Chr 9.1). According to Jer 25.1, it was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign that Jeremiah received the message from the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Judah. This attack occurred in the years 604–603 B.C.

And bound him in fetters: See the comments on 2 Chr 33.11. As there, the fetters were made of “bronze,” which should be made explicit (so New International Version, Revised English Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, El libro del Pueblo de Dios, Peregrino.

To take him to Babylon: In this clause Babylon refers to Babylonia’s capital city, so Contemporary English Version says “the capital city of Babylon.” The Hebrew text does not actually say that Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim to Babylon, only that he bound him to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar may have taken Jehoiakim to Babylon, but some scholars think that Jehoiakim actually died in Jerusalem (see 2 Kgs 24.1-6). The first-century A.D. Jewish historian Josephus says that Jehoiakim was killed in Jerusalem at Nebuchadnezzar’s command. Even though a number of versions say that Nebuchadnezzar actually “took him to Babylonia/Babylon” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), translators should follow Revised Standard Version here and not say more than the Hebrew text says. Of course, it is possible that the Chronicler did intend to say that Nebuchadnezzar actually took Jehoiakim to Babylon.

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 .