brother (older brother)

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in Kwere as sekulu, in Elhomwe as mbalaawo´, and in Mandarin Chinese as gēgē (哥哥), all “older brother.”

Note that Kwere also uses lumbu — “older sibling” in some cases. (Source for Kwere and Elhomwe: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext; Chinese: Jost Zetzsche)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (1 Kings 2:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 2:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “That lady replied, ‘Give your brother Adonijah Abishag to inherit (in marriage).’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “She said, "Allow your elder brother Adonijah to marry Abishag the Shunammite."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Batsheba said, ‘Cause-to-be-married Abishag who come-from-Shunem to your sibling Adonijah.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “She said, ‘Allow Abishag to be given to your older brother Adonijah to be his wife.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese benefactives (yatte)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, yatte (やって) or “do for their sake” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 2:21

The words Let … be given translate a single Hebrew word that is passive in form. Since such a form will not be possible in some languages, it may have to be translated “Give….” Contemporary English Version translates “Allow … to marry,” taking into consideration the words as his wife at the end of this verse.

Since Abishag the Shunammite has been named in verse 17, Good News Translation omits as unnecessary repetition the words the Shunammite.

As his wife is literally “for wife,” but both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation add the pronoun his in order that the English may sound natural.

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 .