firstborn

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “firstborn” in English is translated in a number of ways:

  • “he/she that opens the gown” in Batak Toba (because formerly a woman stopped wearing a gown and started using a bodice after the birth of her first child)
  • “he/she that damages the stalk (i.e. the body)” in Uab Meto (source for this and above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • “the oldest son of all” in Mezquital Otomi
  • “oldest child” in Isthmus Zapotec (source for this and one above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • “firstborn child, who was a boy” in Elhomwe (to make clear, without ambiguity, that Mary did not have daughters before) (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Bawm Chin, the term can imply the existence of younger siblings, so a translation is needed that brings out the fact that Jesus is superior to all else, not just the first of a series. (Source: David Clark)

See also only begotten son / (one and) only son and firstborn.

complete verse (1 Chronicles 2:42)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 2:42:

  • Kupsabiny: “The firstborn of Caleb was called Mesha who came to produce Ziph. And one of his sons was Mareshah who came to produce Hebron.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The eldest son of Caleb, younger brother of Jerahmeel was Mesha. Mesha was the father of Ziph, Ziph was the father of Mareshah. And Mareshah was the father of Hebron.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The eldest male child/(son) of Caleb the sibling of Jerameel was Mesha the father of Zif. His second child was Maresha the father of Hebron.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 2:42

2:42a The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:

Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel ⌊had these sons⌋ :
-or-
Caleb was a brother to Jerahmeel. ⌊Caled had the following sons⌋ :

2:42b Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph,

Mesha ⌊was⌋ Caleb’s first son. He became the father of Ziph.
-or-
Caleb’s first son, ⌊who was called ⌋ Mesha, founded ⌊the town of⌋ Ziph.

2:42c and Mareshah his second son, who was the father of Hebron.

His ⌊other⌋ son Mareshah, became the founder of Hebron.
-or-
Caleb’s other son Mareshah, founded the ⌊town of⌋ Hebron.

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