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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Maccabees 6:14 - 6:15

Translators may begin a new paragraph here since a new character is introduced in the story (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible). It is not necessary to combine these two verses, but we think they are clearer if the last clause of verse 14 is moved to the end of 15 (see the model below).

Then he called for Philip, one of his friends: It is likely that Philip, a very trusted friend, was already in the room near Antiochus’ bedside, so he was not sending someone out of the room to call Philip. For friends as a title, see the comments on 1Macc 2.18. This clause may be rendered “Then Antiochus asked Philip, one of his most trusted advisors, to come near him [or, his bed].”

And made him ruler over all his kingdom: Antiochus was not making Philip king. He was to be regent, ruling in place of a king until Antiochus’ son was old enough to rule as king in his own right. This does not become clear until the next verse. Good News Bible has “and put him in charge of his whole empire,” which is an accurate translation. However, some translators may want to say “and put him in charge of all the countries he ruled over.”

He gave him the crown and his robe and the signet: The crown may be translated “his crown” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). The signet was a ring with a design cut into it. The king’s signet identified him as the king. Good News Bible says “official ring,” which is a good equivalent.

That he might guide Antiochus his son and bring him up to be king may be translated “He told Philip to take them to his son Antiochus, and raise him to be king.” Goldstein adopts this reading, arguing that the Greek verb translated guide (Good News Bible “educate”) never means “educate” in the Greek Old Testament. This approach makes for better sense, but the true original Greek text cannot be always identified on the grounds of making better sense than another reading. It is our feeling that Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible translate the correct Greek text, but we see no reason why the translation suggested above cannot be justified as a dynamic translation of that text. Of course Antiochus intended Philip to give the royal insignia to his son. And the clear intention was for Philip to be the guardian for the boy, educating him properly, until such time as he could rule in his own right. The son eventually ruled as King Antiochus~V. Good News Bible has so identified him here. This is legitimate, but some may feel it is more confusing than helpful. The verbs guide and bring … up may be combined into one verb, such as “raise” (see the model below).

An alternative model for verses 14-15 is:

• 14-15~The king asked Philip, one of his most trusted advisors, to come near him. He took his crown, his [royal] robe, and his official ring, and handed them over to Philip. He told him to give these to his son, and to raise the boy to be King Antiochus~V. Until that time [or, the boy became king], Philip was to rule over his whole kingdom.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.