The name that is transliterated as “Asa” in English means “physician,” “healer.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the concept of order and mandates. As the third king of Judah, Asa ordered the destruction of the altars, he took the cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made (see 1 Kings 15:11 and following). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 16:23:
Kupsabiny: “Omri began his reign in Israel when Asa had thirty-one years of kingship in Judah. He ruled for twelve years. In the first six years, he ruled from Tirzah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “When Asa had been king of Judah for 31 years, Omri became King of Israel. He reigned in Israel for 12 years. The first 6 years he reigned in Tirzah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Omri became king of Israel in the 31st year of the reign of Asa in Juda. He reigned for a period/[lit. inside] of twelve years; six of these years there in Tirza.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Omri became king when Asa had been king of Judah for almost 31 years. Omri ruled Israel for 12 years. For the first six years he ruled in Tirzah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
The thirty-first year of Asa: See the comments on verse 21.
Reigned for twelve years: The text does not clearly state whether the twelve years include the four years that Omri ruled during the civil war (see verse 21), but most likely that is the intended meaning.
Six years he reigned in Tirzah: Regarding Tirzah, see the comments on 1 Kgs 14.17. Since this is the first mention of Tirzah in this section, it may be identified as the capital city. Omri later moved the capital from Tirzah to Samaria, so Good News Translation says that he ruled in Tirzah “The first six years” (similarly Contemporary English Version). This may serve as a good model for other languages since a more literal rendering might be misunderstood.
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 .
16:23a In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah,
In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign/rule over Judah, -or-
When Asa had been king of Judah for about thirty-one (31) years,
16:23b Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.
Omri became king of Israel. His reign/rule lasted twelve years, six of them in ⌊the city of⌋ Tirzah. -or-
Omri began to rule Israel. He ruled for twelve years. The first six years he ruled from/in Tirzah ⌊city⌋.
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