Solomon

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Solomon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wise” referring to 1 Kings 3:12. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Solomon” 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 .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Solomon (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Solomon .

king

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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:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • 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.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 2:19

So: The Hebrew has only the common conjunction here, but the context seems to require some kind of logical connector. Jewish Publication Version has “therefore.” That is, as a result of her conversation with Adonijah, Bathsheba acted in the manner described in this verse.

Here the Hebrew is quite clear that Bathsheba is speaking to Solomon on behalf of Adonijah and not “about” him. See the comments on the previous verse.

The king rose to meet her: Normally the king would remain seated when someone else entered the room. But out of respect for his mother, Solomon got up and moved toward her when she came into the room.

Bowed down to her: This was an additional sign of Solomon’s courtesy toward his mother (see 1 Kgs 1.16). Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation follow the Masoretic Text here. In place of bowed down to her, the Septuagint reads “kissed her,” and this is followed by New English Bible, though Revised English Bible follows the Masoretic Text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the Masoretic Text, which should be followed here.

Had a seat brought for the king’s mother: The king’s mother is Solomon’s birth mother. In many languages it will be most natural to translate “his mother” (so Contemporary English Version) rather than reflecting the impersonal wording of the Hebrew and Revised Standard Version.

According to the Revised Standard Version translation, the king had a seat brought for his mother. The Hebrew noun for seat, however, is the same as that rendered throne in this same verse; and in nearly all occurrences in the Old Testament this Hebrew noun refers to royal thrones. New Revised Standard Version correctly says “and had a throne brought for the king’s mother” (similarly Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Living Translation).

She sat on his right: The right side was a place of honor (Psa 45.9; 110.1). Several translations (Contemporary English Version, La Bible du Semeur) indicate in a footnote that the right side was the place of honor. It may be possible also to make this information explicit in the translation as follows: “she sat down at the place of honor at his right.”

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 .