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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 14:19

Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? It is unnecessary and probably not advisable in most languages to retain the word hand in the translation of this question. What David wanted to know is whether it was Joab who had prompted the woman to come to him with the shrewd plea for the return of Absalom. Contemporary English Version uses the idiomatic expression “Did Joab put you up to this?” Some other ways of saying this are “Isn’t Joab behind all this?” “Was Joab working with you in all this?” (Moffatt), and “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?” (New Century Version). The question should be asked in such a way as to indicate that David believed that the answer was positive.

The response of the woman continues the use of indirect references to herself and to the king. Within this quotation my lord the king will usually be translated “you” or “Your Majesty,” and your handmaid as “me” or some other more natural self-reference. On the other hand your servant refers not to the woman but to Joab and means “your official.” Since Joab was not simply “an official” but was the commander of David’s army, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente states “Joab, your general,” and this may be a useful model in those languages where such military terms exist.

As surely as you live: see the comments on 11.11 and 1 Sam 1.26.

One cannot turn to the right hand or to the left …: a literal translation of this phrase is certainly not advised. But these words may mean either “no one could avoid answering your question” or “you are right on target in what you have said.” Revised English Bible follows the first interpretation: “When your majesty asks a question, there is no way around it, right or left.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh follows the second interpretation, which seems more probable, translating “it is just as my lord the king says.” Compare also New American Bible, “it is just as your majesty has said, and not otherwise.” Another possible way of saying this is “it is impossible to deny what you have just said” or “no one can hide the truth from you” (Contemporary English Version).

Bade me: in modern English it is more natural to say “commanded me” (New Revised Standard Version), “gave me my orders” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “instructed me” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and New International Version).

Put all these words in the mouth: on this expression see the comments under verse 3.

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 .