self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (1 Kings 12:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 12:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Rehoboam replied to those people saying, ‘You (plur.) go away, and you come back to me after three days.’ Then those people went away.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Rehoboam said to them, "Give me three days to think about this matter, you come back in three days." So the people went from there.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rehoboam replied, ‘You (plur.) give me first three days to think- this -over, then you (plur.) come-back to me.’ So the people went-home.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He replied, ‘Go away, and come back three days from now and I will give you my answer.’ So those leaders and Jeroboam left.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 12:5

Depart for three days, then come again to me: The grammar of these words is difficult. The punctuation in the Masoretic Text requires the following rendering: “Depart again for three days, then come/return to me.” But since nothing has been said about the people having previously departed, the words “depart again” make little sense in this context. Revised Standard Version solves the difficulty by punctuating the text differently and connecting the adverb again with the verb come instead of with the verb Depart. Another solution to the difficulty is to change the vowel in the Hebrew adverb for “again” (ʿod) so that this word becomes “until” (ʿad), which is the reading of the ancient versions. The Septuagint reads “Depart until [the end of] three days, and return to me.”

The solution that seems best is to take the adverb in the Masoretic Text as an expression of duration. Compare De Vries: “Depart for yet three days, and then return to me.” The text does not state here why Rehoboam needed three days, but the sense is clearly “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer” (New Living Translation; similarly Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

In languages where indirect discourse is preferred, translators may consider rendering the direct quotation indirectly by saying something like “He told them to go away for three days and then come back for his answer.”

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 .