bear child / give birth

The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bear (a child)” or “give birth to” is translated in Mairasi as “go to the forest,” reflecting the traditional place of childbirth for Mairasi women. (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Spanish it is translated as dar a luz, literally “to give to light.” Likewise, in Portuguese (dar à luz) and Italian (dare alla luce). (Source: Mark Terwilliger)

See also in childbirth / travail and birth.

nurse (verb)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “nurse” in English is translated in German as stillen or “to quiet.”

The das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) and the BasisBibel (publ. 2021) also use the same verb in Psalm 131:2 (for this choice, see here).

complete verse (1 Kings 3:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 3:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “When I woke up to breastfeed the child in the morning, the child was dead! When I looked closely with the morning light, I saw that it was not the child I produced.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Getting up the next morning, thinking to nurse my child I looked, and it turned out that the child had died. In the morning light, when I looked carefully, I realized that that child was not my child."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In-the-morning, when I got-up to nurse/[lit. to-breastfeed] my child, I saw that it is already dead. But when I looked-at- the child -closely in the light, I found-out that he/she indeed was not my child.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When I awoke the next morning and was ready to nurse my baby, I saw that it was dead. But when I looked at it closely in the morning light, I saw that it was not my baby!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 3:21

In the morning: In all likelihood, this should be translated “This morning” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie) since it is improbable that the women would have waited several days to present this case to the king. The way the story is told in Good News Translation (“The next morning”) makes it sound as if the women may have waited several days before coming to the king. The words in the morning translate a single Hebrew word. In this context it is possible that the first occurrence refers to the early morning just before daylight and the second occurrence refers to a short time later when there was more light. Or the sense may be simply that the mother did not immediately realize the baby was not hers until she looked more closely.

The Hebrew verb rendered to nurse is literally the causative form of the verb “to suck.” Certain English versions use the somewhat archaic verb “to suckle” (New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt). In some languages it is most naturally translated “to give the breast” or “to cause to drink milk.”

For the function of the word translated behold, see the comments on verses 12 and 15. Here it indicates sudden shock.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 3:21

3:21a The next morning, when I got up to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead.

The following morning, when I got up to breastfeed my son, there was the/a dead baby!
-or-
The next day, I rose early to feed my son but found that the baby boy ⌊lying next to me⌋ was dead!

3:21b But when I examined him,

But after looking at him carefully, in the daylight,
-or-
When it was light I had a good/careful look at the boy/baby.

3:21c I realized that he was not the son I had borne.”

I realized that he was not the son I had given birth to.”
-or-
I could see that he/it was not my son!”

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