The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 4:19:
Kupsabiny: “Geber son of Uri was in charge of the region of Gilead up to the territories which were formerly ruled by Sihon of the Amorites and Og of Bashan. There was one person who was in charge of the whole of the land.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Geber, son of Uri in Gilead (the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan). And there was only one District Officer over that district.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Geber the child of Uri, who was-in-charge of Gilead, which was under-the-jurisdiction in-the-time-past of Sihon the king of the Amornon and of Og the king of Bashan. Geber was the only governor in this entire district.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Uri’s son Geber, for the Gilead region, the land that Sihon the king of the Amor people-group formerly ruled, and the Bashan area, which was the area that Og formerly ruled. In addition to all those, Solomon appointed one governor for the territory of the tribe of Judah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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.”
Geber the son of Uri was in charge of the twelfth administrative district, which probably corresponded roughly to the territory assigned to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, east of the Jordan River.
In the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan: The English words land and country translate the same Hebrew noun, which Revised Standard Version has translated according to the context.
Some interpreters follow one important manuscript of the Septuagint in reading “Gad” (so New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) instead of Gilead. Since Gilead has already been mentioned in verse 13, “Gad” does fit better here, unless Geber and Ben-geber refer to the same person. If “Gad” is the correct reading, this means that Ben-geber, mentioned in verse 13, was responsible for the northern land east of the Jordan River and that Geber was responsible for the southern land east of the Jordan. Quite possibly “Gad” is original, and then when the text was changed to Gilead, the information about Sihon and Og was also added. But rather than attempt to go back to some supposed original text, it will be better to follow the Masoretic Text here.
Sihon and Og were non-Israelite kings, who were defeated by the Israelites at the time of the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. Sihon ruled the land east of the Jordan River between the Arnon River and the Jabbok River. Og ruled the territory of Bashan further north (see verse 13), to the east of Lake Galilee. The accounts of their defeat and death are told in Num 21.21-35; Deut 2.26–3.11; and Josh 9.10; 12.1-6. Since both kings were no longer alive at the time of Solomon, Contemporary English Version says “Gilead, where King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan had lived” (Good News Translation is similar with “the land of Gilead, which had been ruled…”).
And there was one officer in the land of Judah is literally “and one officer who [was] in the land.” This final comment brings the list of officers to thirteen, which seems to contradict the statement in verse 7 that there were twelve officials. But this final comment may be understood in several different ways:
• (1) Twelve officials governed the northern tribes, and one official governed the southern land of Judah. “All Israel” in verse 7 then refers only to the northern tribes and does not include Judah. The land refers specifically to “Judah,” which is seen from the royal perspective (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Anchor Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie,Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Peregrino, all of which make explicit the name “Judah”). Compare also New American Bible: “There was one prefect besides, in the king’s own land.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “… in the Land,” but it has a note that states “The reference here is certainly to the country of Judah.” Like Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond says “… in the land,” but the footnote in Nouvelle Bible Segond says more cautiously “it is possible that this expression designates here the territory of Judah, which would have had a special status.”
• (2) One governor supervised all twelve of the regional governors. This interpretation seems most likely the intended meaning. It is supported by the ancient Jewish historian Josephus and is the basis for the translation in Revised English Bible, which corrects the Hebrew to read “In addition, one governor over all the governors in the land.” According to Revised English Bible, this one governor or superintendent is Azariah, whom Revised English Bible calls the “Superintendent of the regional governors” in verse 5. Compare also Moffatt: “All these prefects were under a single chief.” It is not clear whether the tribe of Judah is included among the twelve districts or whether Judah was excluded from providing food.
• (3) The reference is to Geber, and these words should be translated “He was the only governor over the district [of Gilead]” (so New International Version and the alternate translation in the margin of La Bible du Semeur and Bible en français courant). This translation seems least likely to be the intended meaning, but it is grammatically possible.
• (4) Geber is the same person as Ben-geber in verse 13, so eleven officials governed the northern tribes, and one official governed the southern land of Judah.
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 .
Geber son of Uri was in charge of ⌊the district/region of⌋ Gilead. -or-
Uri’s son Geber was responsible for ⌊the territory of⌋ Gilead.
4:19b including the territories of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan,
This was where Sihon, king of the people of Amor, and Og, king of the people of Bashan, had ⌊once⌋ ruled. -or-
Gilead was the land where King Sihon had ruled the Amorite people and King Og had ruled the people of Bashan.
4:19c There was also one governor in the land of Judah.
(Literal): And there was one governor in the land.
There was also one governor/overseer in charge of the land ⌊of Judah⌋. -or-
One person was also responsible for Judah.
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