bear child / give birth

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)

See also in childbirth / travail and birth.

Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was word by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (1 Kings 11:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 11:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Hadad’s wife produced a son who was named Genubath. Genubath was brought up in the home of Pharaoh. That boy grew up together with Pharaoh’s sons.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The younger sister of Tahpanhes gave birth to a son from Hadad, named Genubath. And Tahpanhes brought the child to the palace. Genubath lived there with Pharaoh’s sons and daughters.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Sometime later, the wife of Hadad gave-birth to a boy, and they named him Genubat. Tapenes was-the-one-who-brought-up the child there at the palace. The child lived with the children of the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Later Hadad’s wife gave birth to a son named Genubath. The sister of Tahpenes raised him/brought him up in the palace, where he lived with the king’s sons.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 11:20

The sister of Tahpenes bore him …: Regarding the name Tahpenes, see the comments on verse 19. Here, instead of referring to Hadad’s wife a second time as the sister of Tahpenes, the pronoun “she” may be used if it is considered more natural (so Good News Translation).

Weaned translates the Masoretic Text. The Septuagint reads “reared.” By changing one letter only in the Hebrew verb for weaned, the verb may be corrected to read “reared.” It is difficult to know whether the Greek translator misread the Hebrew or whether the Masoretic Text contains an error. A number of translations read “reared/raised” (La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant, Good News Translation), but it is not always clear whether they are following the Septuagint (so New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet) or whether they are free renderings of the Hebrew word for weaned. “Reared” seems to fit the context better. However, the verse seems to say that she both weaned him and “reared” him in the palace with the king’s sons. So either translation is acceptable.

House in this context may appropriately be translated “palace” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

That Genubath was … among the sons of Pharaoh means that he was treated as a member of Pharaoh’s family.

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 11:20

11:20a And the sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son named Genubath.

The sister of Taphenes gave him a son named Genubath.
-or-
They had a son named Genubath.

11:20b Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s palace,

The New International Version follows the Septuagint, which says “reared.” The Masoretic Text says “weaned.”

⌊Queen⌋ Taphenes brought him up in Pharaoh’s palace,
-or-
Taphenes raised the boy in the home of the king ⌊of Egypt⌋.

11:20c and Genubath lived there among the sons of Pharaoh.

and Genubath stayed/lived in the palace among/with Pharaoh’s own children.
-or-
There he ⌊spent/passed his time⌋ with/among the king’s own children.

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