desert, wilderness

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The Greek that is translated as “desert” or “wilderness” in English is translated in a number of ways:

Note that in Luke 15:4, usually a term is used that denotes pastoral land, such as “eating/grazing-place” in Tagbanwa (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation).

See also wilderness and desolate wilderness.

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


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

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 17:16

If the quotation in the previous verse is made indirect, it will be necessary to introduce a direct quotation at the beginning of this verse. Good News Translation does so by supplying “Hushai added….”

Now therefore: literally “And now.” But there may be a logical connection to be understood. New Revised Standard Version retains “Therefore.” Many versions, however, take this as simply introducing the next step in the fast-moving story and leave out any logical marker.

As indicated in Revised Standard Version this verse contains a quotation within a larger quotation. Hushai tells Zadok and Abiathar what the messengers are to say to David. In many languages it will be better to make this internal quotation indirect rather than direct, as has been done in Good News Translation.

Lodge: this represents the same verb as the one translated spend the night in verse 8. Here it may be rendered “camp” (An American Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) or “spend the night” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, and Revised English Bible as well as Good News Translation). In some languages the most natural translation here will be “sleep.”

The fords of the wilderness: see 15.28.

But by all means pass over: in addition to the conjunction and an emphatic adverb, a Hebrew construction is used here in which the verb is repeated in two forms to make it emphatic. A literal rendering is “and indeed to cross over you cross over.” The emphatic nature of the message is therefore shown in two different ways. Translators should look for ways of expressing the message in the most emphatic way possible in their own languages. In English some versions add the auxiliary verb “must” (Contemporary English Version). Others indicate the urgency by adding something like “at once” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “without fail” (New American Bible), or “as fast as you can” (New Jerusalem Bible) as a part of the quotation.

Lest: in many languages it will be better to translate this by beginning a completely new sentence, making explicit what is implied. The new sentence may begin “If you don’t do this….”

In the context of this direct quotation, the words the king refer to David, who is being addressed. This will be more naturally translated “you” or “your majesty” if the direct quotation is retained. But if it becomes indirect the pronoun should be adjusted to “he.”

Be swallowed up: the basic meaning of this Hebrew verb is “to swallow [something].” Here, as often in the Old Testament, it is used in a figurative sense to mean “destroyed” (New American Bible) or “annihilated” (New Jerusalem Bible). Revised English Bible translates “before an overwhelming blow can be launched.” But in those languages where passive forms are difficult, translators may have to say something like “before the soldiers of Absalom destroy you completely.”

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 .