son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of.

sea / lake

The various Greek, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin and Hebrew terms that are translated as “sea,” “ocean,” or “lake” in English are all translated in Chichewa with one term: nyanja. Malawi, where Chichewa is spoken, has a lot of lakes but does not share a border with the ocean (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation). Likewise, in Toposa all the different bodies of water are all called by one term as well: nya-name̥ (source: Schröder 2026, p. 101).

In Malagasy culture, the sea is perceived as sacred because it was a path taken by the ancestors. That is why the Malagasy word for the “sea” is ranomasina, which literally means “the sacred water.” The word masina actually has two different meanings: “salted” and “sacred/holy.” Salt is used for the conservation of some foods, such as meat or fish, that are to be set aside for later use. In this sense, the Malagasy phrase for “Holy Spirit” has the literal meaning of “Salted Spirit.” (Source: Brigitte Rabarijaona in The Bible Translator 2022, p. 103ff.)

“Sea” (or: “ocean”) is translated in Tepeuxila Cuicatec as “water land” and in Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac as “very big lake.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 7:1

In the one hundred and fifty-first year Demetrius the son of Seleucus: The one hundred and fifty-first year corresponds to 161 b.c. (see the comments on 1Macc 1.10). Contemporary English Version says “the year 151 of the Syrian Kingdom.” For Demetrius and Seleucus, see the introductory comments on this section.

Set forth from Rome, sailed with a few men to a city by the sea: There are several implied actions involved here. Demetrius and his soldiers left Rome, which was not a seaport, and traveled somewhere to board a ship that would take them to Syria. So in some languages it will be necessary to say “left Rome with a few soldiers, got into a boat and sailed to Syria, where they landed….” According to 2Macc 14.1, the city by the sea was Tripolis, 96 kilometers (60 miles) north of modern Beirut, and Contemporary English Version makes that clear with “the coastal city of Tripolis.” The sea is of course the Mediterranean, and Good News Bible makes this explicit with “a town on the Mediterranean coast.” It is only an assumption that Demetrius traveled by sea. The Greek text does not say specifically that he sailed (literally “went up”) or that he “landed” (Good News Bible), only that he left Rome and went to a seaside town. If it is convenient to leave how he traveled unstated, translators may do so. If it is more convenient (as it is in English) to specify the means of travel, it is safe to assume that it was by sea.

And there began to reign is better translated “where he proclaimed himself king” (Good News Bible), “and there made himself king” (New English Bible, Golstein), or “where he appointed himself king” (Contemporary English Version). Apparently, there was no ceremony. Demetrius just showed up and claimed royal authority by simply acting as if he were the king.

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.