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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Daniel 2:8 - 2:9

Answered: literally “answered saying….” In some languages the context may require a word that gives a stronger expression of emotion. New Jerusalem Bible has “retorted,” Revised English Bible “rejoined”; Good News Translation says “exclaimed,” while Bible en français courant renders the verb “cried out.”

I know with certainty: given the emotive impact of this passage, the Revised Standard Version rendering sounds somewhat stilted and weak. Some other versions have said “It is clear to me” (New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible), “I see quite plainly” (Moffatt), and “Just as I thought!” (Good News Translation).

You are trying to gain time: literally “you are buying time,” that is, “you are looking for a way to have some more time” or “you are trying to delay the punishment.” New American Bible has “you are bargaining for time.”

The word from me is sure: see verse 5.

There is but one sentence for you: these words indicate that the same sentence, or verdict, will be applied to all of those involved. Other ways of saying this are “you will all receive the same punishment,” or “they (indefinite) will punish every one of you in the same way,” or “the same penalty will be given to all of you,” or “the same judgment will be pronounced on all of you,” or “I will have you all punished in the same way.”

You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words: this gives a part of the reason for the judgment that would be passed and may therefore require a restructuring of the verse in some languages. It is important that the verb form used indicates a continuing process rather than a single event. This is why Good News Translation has “to go on telling me lies….” Some other possible renderings of these words may be “you conspired to continue deceiving me…” or “you plotted to keep on tricking me with lies….”

Till the times change: it is obvious that it is not a change in time that was hoped for as much as a change in the attitude of the king that would come with the passage of time. If necessary it is possible to say “until I change my mind” or something similar. Other versions have rendered this as “in the hope that with time things may alter” (New English Bible/Revised English Bible), “hoping the situation will change” (New International Version), “till the crisis is past” (New American Bible).

Therefore tell me …: or “So I want you to tell me…,” or “I demand that you reveal to me what the dream was, so that I can be assured that you are able to tell me what it means.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .