The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 5:17:
Kupsabiny: “All these people were listed in the book of their clan when Jotham ruled the land of Judah, and Jeroboam ruled the land of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “All these genealogical records were written during the period of king Jotham of Judah and king Jeroboam of Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “All these were-written in the list of the descendants during the time when Jotam reigned in Juda and Jeroboam in Israel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
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.”
Good News Translation treats this verse as a parenthesis, but it is not essential to understand it in this way. In fact, most English versions take it as an extension of the main idea of the text.
All of these were enrolled by genealogies: All of these refers to the Gadites mentioned in verses 11-16. International Children’s Bible has “All these people’s names,” having begun the previous verse with “The Gadite people.” For the Hebrew verb rendered were enrolled by genealogies, see the comments on 1 Chr 4.33, where it is translated “kept a genealogical record” (see also verses 1 and 7). Other translations for this whole clause include “These registers were all compiled” (Revised English Bible), “All were listed in the family records” (New American Bible), “They all were registered … in the lists of the tribe of Gad” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), and “The members of this tribe were written in the registers” (Bible en français courant).
In the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel: The writer places this event during the reigns of specific kings of Judah and Israel. Jotham ruled Judah during 740–736 B.C.; Jeroboam II ruled Israel during 783–743 B.C. In the days of may be translated “in the time of” (New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) or “during the reigns of.” New Century Version is more specific by rendering the last half of this verse as “during the time Jotham was king of Judah and Jeroboam was king of Israel.”
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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