The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
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:
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
But the king’s word prevailed against Joab: But renders the same common Hebrew conjunction as at the beginning of verse 3. Here it introduces the response of King David, which is contrary to the implicit advice of Joab. Other possible renderings are “However” (New American Bible, American Bible), “Nevertheless” (Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nueva Versión Internacional), and “Notwithstanding.” The king’s word prevailed against Joab is literally “the word of the king was stronger than Joab.” Other ways of expressing this clause include “Joab was overruled by the king” (Revised English Bible), “the king enforced his order on Joab” (New Jerusalem Bible), “David did not change his mind and he ordered Joab to carry out his orders” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), and “the king made Joab obey the order” (Good News Translation; similarly Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).
So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel: So translates the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it introduces the logical result to David’s order. Joab leaves David’s presence and begins the work of the census as he was commanded to do. According to 2 Sam 24.8, this trip throughout all Israel lasted nine months and twenty days. But this detail is not a part of the account in 1 Chronicles.
And came back to Jerusalem is literally “and came to Jerusalem.” Since Joab began in Jerusalem and finished in Jerusalem, the Hebrew verb for “came” is better rendered came back or “returned” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation).
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 .