Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

king

Click here to view graphically

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:

(Click or tap here to see details)

  • 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 Kings 24:15

The prophet Ezekiel refers to this event in his explanation of his parable of the eagles and the vine (Ezek 17.12).

The Hebrew verb translated carried away is the same one as in the previous verse. And the implied subject continues to be Nebuchadnezzar.

The king’s mother: Some languages may have a special word to refer to the mother of a chief or a king. It would be appropriate to use such a term here.

The king’s wives: In some languages it will be necessary to choose between a plural form for wives that indicates a few wives or a plural form that indicates many wives. There is, however, no statement in the biblical text or other ancient documents which indicates the number of Jehoiachin’s wives.

The Hebrew word translated officials is the same as the one rendered “palace officials” in verse 12. As in verse 12, some modern versions therefore translate it “eunuchs” (Revised English Bible, La Bible Pléiade, em>Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). But the more general meaning given in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is probably more appropriate in this context.

The chief men of the land: This expression refers to the leading citizens of Judah. Its meaning is virtually the opposite of “the poorest people of the land” in verse 14. These two groups represent the opposite ends of the social scale in Judah. New Revised Standard Version says “the elite of the land.” The Hebrew word for chief men is ʾewil. This word is sometimes translated “foolish” or “fool” in other contexts, but such a meaning has no clear sense here. Probably the Hebrew word here is a loanword from Akkadian which means “man” or “citizen.” The reading in the margin of the Masoretic Text has the Hebrew word ʾayil (meaning “male sheep”). This word occurs in Exo 15.15 and Ezek 17.13 in a metaphorical sense to refer to rulers or powerful men. Whichever reading is followed, the meaning will be the same.

The repetitious information in this verse may be reduced if it is considered unnatural. The two verbal expressions, he carried away … to Babylon at the beginning of the verse and he took into captivity … to Babylon at the end, may be reduced to a single verb phrase if necessary.

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