The name that is transliterated as “Peleg” (also: “Phaleg”) in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that signifies “separate” (the meaning of his name and representative of the time he lived at — see Genesis 10:25) and refers to the fact that he is part of Christ’s genealogy. (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 1:19:
Kupsabiny: “Eber produced two sons. The firstborn was called Peleg, because when Peleg was born, people became divided in the world/land. And the other son was Joktan.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Eber had two sons, one of the sons was named Peleg, because in his time the world was divided. The other son’s name was Joktan.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Eber had two male children/(sons): one was named Peleg, because in his time the people in the earth were-dividing; the name of his brother was Joktan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, tomo ni o-rare-ru (ともにおられる) or “together with” is used.
To Eber were born two sons: The Hebrew verb rendered were born is singular, but the usage of a singular verb before a plural subject can occur in Hebrew. This passive expression reflects the Hebrew, but in many languages it will be more natural to say “Eber was the father of two sons” or “Eber gave birth to two sons” even though it was, of course, his wife who did so literally.
The name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided): See Gen 10.25. The line of descent will continue with Peleg, who represents the fifteenth generation of humankind. But the writer first lists the peoples who descended from his brother Joktan. As the Good News Translation footnote indicates, the name Peleg sounds like the Hebrew word for “divide.” Rather than use a footnote to explain the meaning of the name, translators may wish to transliterate the Hebrew name in the text, followed by the meaning within parentheses since the meaning of the name is pertinent in this context; for example, La Bible du Semeur says “the one was named Peleg (Divide) because in his time the earth was divided” (similarly Osty-Trinquet), and Moffatt has “one called Peleg (Division) because the inhabitants of the earth were divided up in his day” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Other possible models are “the first was named Peleg, which means ‘Division’, because while he lived, the people of the earth were divided” (Bible en français courant), and “the one was named Peleg, Divided, because in his time the earth was divided” (Beaumont).
In his days the earth was divided (Good News Translation “the people of the world were divided”) probably refers to the division of the peoples of the earth as told in the story of the Tower of Babylon (see Gen 11.1-9).
And the name of his brother Joktan: Joktan was the father of thirteen sons, or, more probably, the ancestor of thirteen descendants, who are listed in verses 20-23. His descendants lived in southwestern Arabia.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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