son vs. grandson

“Son of x, son of y” must be rendered as “son of x or grandson of y” in Tibetan or else it will sound like two different people. (Source: David Clark in Clark / Desnitsky 2009 , p. 21).

Note: The same translation solution is chosen in many contemporary English Bibles that emphasize easy readability, such as the Contemporary English Version, Common English Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, or New Living Translation.

See also father / grandfather.

son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

Levite

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is transliterated “Levites” in English (only the Contemporary English Version translates it as “temple helpers”) is translated in Ojitlán Chinantec as “temple caretakers,” Yatzachi Zapotec as “people born in the family line of Levi, people whose responsibility it was to do the work in the important church of the Israelites,” in Alekano as “servants in the sacrifice house from Jerusalem place,” and in Tenango Otomi as “helpers of priests.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)

In American Sign Language with a sign that combines “temple” + “servant.” (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Levite” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

For the sign in Spanish Sign Language, see Levi.

More information about Levites .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 9:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Some Levites who returned are/were Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah from the house of Merari.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These are the Levites who returned — Shemaiah [was the] son of Hasshub, Hasshub was the son of Azrikam, Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Merari.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Of the Levites:
    Shemaya the child of Hashub (Hashub was the child of Azrikam; Azrikam was the child of Hashabia the descendant of Merari),” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “From the descendants of Levi who returned to Judah there was Shemaiah the son of Hasshub.
    Hasshub was the son of Azrikam;
    Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah;
    Hashabiah was a descendant of Levi’s youngest son Merari.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 9:14

9:14a From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam,

Some of the descendants of Levi ⌊came back to live in Jerusalem city⌋ . One man was Shemaiah who was the son of Hasshub. Hassub was the son of Azrikam.
-or-
Shemiah from the clan of Levi ⌊returned to Jerusalem city in Judah area⌋ . Shemiah’s father was Hasshub and Husshub’s father was Azrikam

9:14b the son of Hashabiah, a descendant of Merari;

Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah who was a descendant of ⌊Levi’s son⌋ Merari.
-or-
and Azrikam’s father was Hashabiah. Their ancestor was Merari, ⌊the youngest son of Levi⌋ .

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