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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 king of Israel went to his house … and came to Samaria: Revised Standard Version follows the form of the Hebrew. Such a literal translation may give the wrong impression that the king first went home and then later went to Samaria. The sense is “the king of Israel started back to his home in Samaria … and then arrived there.” Compare New Revised Standard Version: “The king of Israel set out toward home … and came to Samaria.”
The Septuagint omits the words to his house, and this is the basis for Osty-Trinquet‘s rendering “The king of Israel left … and returned to Samaria.” It is possible that the words to his house were not original here but were added by a scribe from 1 Kgs 21.4, but they are securely a part of the Masoretic Text and should be translated.
Resentful and sullen: The same words describe King Ahab again in 1 Kgs 21.4, where Revised Standard Version has “vexed and sullen.” The Hebrew adjective rendered resentful comes from a root whose basic meaning is “stubborn” or “rebellious.” The second Hebrew adjective, rendered sullen, comes from a root meaning “to storm” or “to rage against.” In this context it may be translated “embittered” or “dejected.” Other translations of these two adjectives are “sullen and angry” (Revised English Bible), “Disturbed and angry” (New American Bible), “gloomy and out of temper” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “Dispirited and sullen” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
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 .
20:43 Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.
Then the king of Israel became bitter and angry. He left and went to his home/palace in Samaria. -or-
The king of Israel went back home to Samari. He was furious ⌊with Yahweh⌋ and resentful.
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