Jezebel

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Jezebel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign depicting “striking serpent” representing her deceitfulness. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Jezebel” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jezebel and Jezebel from an African-American Perspective ..

complete verse (1 Kings 21:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 21:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, a message was sent to Jezebel, ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then they sent this message to Jezebel, "Naboth has been stoned to death."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then they wrote to Jezebel that they stoned Nabot and now dead.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then those leaders sent a message to Jezebel, saying ‘We have executed Naboth.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 21:14

They sent to Jezebel: The Hebrew does not have a direct object after the verb sent. Good News Translation supplies the noun “message.” Neither is there an explicit subject for this verb. It may be that the people in general or more specifically the elders and nobles (New Living Translation “The city officials”) sent word to Jezebel. Walsh, however, argues that the subject is the two base fellows, as in verse 13. The Hebrew is simply ambiguous and any of these understandings is possible.

Moffatt translates the direct quotation in this verse indirectly by rendering the whole verse as “They sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned to death.” Or in languages where the passive form is a problem, an alternative model is:

• They sent a message to Jezebel informing her that they had killed Naboth with stones.

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 .