Absalom (image)

Hand colored stencil print on momigami by Sadao Watanabe (1972).

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe.

For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

See also Absalom.

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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Samuel 13:24

Came to the king: the presumed point of view of the writer as well as receptor language practices will determine whether the verb “came” or “went” is used in translation. Note also that In some languages it may be important to specify which king is being talked about. Good News Translation makes it clear that it is “King David.”

Behold: this particle is left untranslated by the majority of modern English versions. It serves merely to focus attention on what is about to be said. But if a similar device exists in the receptor language, it should be used here. The Hebrew also contains a particle of entreaty, which neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation translate. This may be rendered “Look, I pray,” or “Please hear what I have to say.”

Even though David was his father, in his presence Absalom twice uses the polite third person reference to himself as your servant. But this will be very unnatural in many languages. Translators should look for natural expressions of courtesy and esteem in their own languages to try to convey the same respect. Good News Translation attempts to do this by using the English expression “Your Majesty,” but other languages may have very different means of doing this. And in most cases normal first person pronouns will be used for self reference.

On the other hand, the words his servants refers to the officials of King David, and since Absalom is speaking directly to the king, this will be rendered “your officials” in most cases.

The notion that there would be a celebration must be made clear in many languages, since it will not be understood as it was by the original readers and hearers.

Pray let the king …: on this request formula, see the comments on verses 6 and 13 above.

Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente may provide a helpful model for some languages:

• He went to the king and said to him, “I am having a festival for the shearing of sheep. I will be honored to have the king and his court with me.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .