Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 27:32:
Kupsabiny: “David had another father (paternal uncle) who was called Jonathan. He was a very learned person and he was wise/experienced and he was the one advising the king. Jehiel son of Hakmoni was the one who taught the sons of king David.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “David’s uncle Jonathan was one who gave advice, had wisdom and was a scribe. Jehiel son of a Hacmonite was the one who cared for the king’s sons.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Jonatan the uncle of King David was his adviser/counselor. He was a wise man and a writer. Jehiel the child of Hacmoni was the teacher of the children of the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “David’s uncle Jonathan was a wise counselor for him. Jehiel, the son of Hacmoni, taught the king’s sons.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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 (Dinė) 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.”
27:32a David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of insight and a scribe.
⌊King⌋ David’s uncle was Jonathan. He was a man with understanding and wise advice. He was also a scribe/teacher. -or-
Jonathan was a good advisor/counsellor. He was a well educated man/scholar. He was ⌊King⌋ David’s father’s brother.
27:32b Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended to the sons of the king.
⌊Jonathan and⌋ Hachmoni’s son Jehiel taught the king’s sons. -or-
⌊Jonathan and a man named⌋ Jehiel were responsible for ⌊the education of⌋ King David’s sons. The father of Jehiel was Hachmoni.
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