scattering

In Gbaya, the notion of scattering something or someone in all directions in the associated verses is emphasized with the ideophone sót-sót.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (1 Kings 1:49)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 1:49:

  • Kupsabiny: “When all Adonijah’s visitors/guests heard those words, they became afraid and they scattered, thereafter, each one went his own way.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Adonijah’s guests, trembled and were terrified and got up from their places and went to their own places.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- the visitors of Adonia -heard this, they stood-up very afraid, and went their-own-way.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then all of Adonijah’s guests trembled/were afraid, so they all immediately got up and left and scattered.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 1:49

Then reflects the common Hebrew conjunction, but some kind of temporal connector seems to be required. And the context suggests an immediate reaction after Jonathan spoke. Some possible renderings are “Thereupon” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “At this” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version), and “At these words” (La Bible du Semeur).

For guests see the comments on verse 41.

The Hebrew verb rendered trembled is often used in reference to shaking or trembling from fear. While Good News Translation expresses the aspect of fear (“were afraid”), it does not retain the sense of shaking or trembling. Contemporary English Version may be a better model: “shook with fear.”

And rose, and each went his own way: This expression has been taken by some interpreters to mean a sudden departure; for example, Contemporary English Version has “and they left as fast as they could” while New Century Version says “and they left quickly and scattered.” This is probably implicit in the context, but the idea of going in different directions is central to the meaning.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 1:49

1:49 At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

Then Adonijah’s men, his guests, began to tremble/shake with fear. They all got up ⌊from their seats/places⌋ and left ⌊in a hurry⌋.
-or-
⌊Hearing this,⌋ all the people whom Adonijah had invited/called became very afraid, and they left ⌊the table/feast⌋ and scattered ⌊in all directions⌋.

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