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 8:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 8:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “Benjamin produced these sons: Bela, Ashbel, Ahrah,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Benjamin’s first-born son was Bela, [his] second son [was] Ashbel, [his] third son [was] Aharah,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These were the male children of Benjamin from the oldest to the youngest: Bela, Ashbel, Ahara,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Benjamin had five sons: Bela, Ashbel, Aharah,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 8:1

Benjamin was the father of …: The first two verses of this chapter list the names of Benjamin’s five sons by stating first the name and then the order of birth. Good News Translation restructures these verses by saying “Benjamin had five sons. In order of age they were…” (similarly Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). The Hebrew verb rendered was the father of is literally “caused to give birth to” or, in older English, “begat” (King James Version). In certain languages a verb like this will be more natural.

Aharah is the reading in the Masoretic Text, but according to Num 26.38, his name is “Ahiram” (so here New Jerusalem Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Osty-Trinquet).

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 8:1

Section 8:1-5 This was the family line of Benjamin

8:1a Benjamin was the father of Bela, his firstborn;

Benjamin’s firstborn son was Bela.
-or-
Benjamin was the father of Bela, ⌊who was⌋ his first son.

8:1b Ashbel was the second born, Aharah the third,

⌊Benjamin’s⌋ second son was Ashbel. ⌊Benjamin’s⌋ third ⌊son was⌋ Aharah.
-or-
Ashbel ⌊was his⌋ second ⌊son⌋ . Aharah ⌊was his⌋ third ⌊son⌋ .

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