midwife

The Hebrew that is translated as “midwife” in English is translated in Kwere as “old woman.” (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In the Thai Common Language version it is “a woman who helps the womb.” (See Translation commentary on Exod 1:15.)

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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Exod 1:15

The nationality of the Hebrew midwives is uncertain because the Hebrew phrase may be read either as “Hebrew midwives” or as “midwives to the Hebrews.” They may have been Egyptian midwives assigned to serve the Hebrew women. It is better to think of them as “midwives who helped the Hebrew women.” The term Hebrew should not be changed to “Israelite,” since it is sometimes used in reference to a larger group of people known as Semites rather than just the descendants of Jacob. (See the comment on “Hebrews” at 3.18.) In many languages there will be a technical expression for “midwife.” In fact, in some languages there may be at least two expressions, one used colloquially and the other a more elegant or polite term. In such cases the translator must decide which is more appropriate. In yet other languages the meaning of “midwife” will have to be described; for example, “woman who aids the womb” (Thai Common Language Version). A possible alternative model is “Shiphrah and Puah, two women who helped the Hebrew women give birth….”

Then the king of Egypt said: in many languages, using the equivalent of said (Good News Translation‘s “spoke”) will not be strong enough. In such cases it will probably be better to say something like “Then the king of Egypt gave a command to….” Then the next verse may begin with the phrase “He said to them….”

Shiphrah and Puah were the names of two midwives, but there may have been more. One … and the other … is literally “the first … the second….” “The two midwives” in Good News Translation may give the wrong meaning. The Hebrew text does not specify that there were only two. So translators should attempt to use language similar to Revised Standard Version‘s model, leaving open the possibility that there were other midwives available to the Hebrews. (See the alternative model above.)