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

complete verse (1 Chronicles 9:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Some people from the clan of Benjamin also returned. Those people came from nine hundreds and fifty-six houses/families. The famous people among those people were Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah, and Ibneiah son of Jeroham. Others were Elah son of Uzzi who was son of Michri. And others were Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These were the Benjaminites who lived in Jerusalem — Meshullam was the father of Sallu. Hodaviah was the father of Meshullam. Hassenuah was the father of Hodaviah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The tribe of Benjamin:
    Salu the child of Meshulam (Meshulam was the child of Hodavia; Hodavia was the child of Hasenua).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “From the tribe of Benjamin, Sallu, the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Hodaviah; Hodaviah was the son of Hassenuah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:7

Of the Benjaminites …: Verses 7-8 give the names of four members of the tribe of Benjamin “who lived in Jerusalem” (Good News Translation) and list their ancestors. The format used in Good News Translation makes it easier to see the relationships of the persons named as well as to see which persons are in focus. The parallel passage in Neh 11.7-9 has a number of minor differences with the names listed here.

Sallu the son of Meshullam is named in Neh 11.7 as a Benjaminite who lived in Jerusalem.

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 9:7

9:7 From the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

⌊Sallu lived in Jerusalem city.⌋ Sallu was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Hodaviah. Hodaviah was the son of Hassenuah.
-or-
These men from the tribe of Benjamin ⌊returned to Jerusalem city⌋ . Sallu ⌊returned⌋ . His father was Meshullam. Meshullam’s father was Hodaviah. Hodaviah’s father was Hassenuah.

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