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)

In Lama it is translated as “older or younger brother.” (Source: Neal Brinneman)

See also older brother (Japanese honorifics).

older brother (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage of appropriate suffix title referred to as keishō (敬称) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017 by either using -san or –sama with the latter being the more formal title.

In these verses, the Hebrew that is translated as “brother” in English is translated in the Shinkaiyaku Bible as nī-san (兄さん), combining the word for “older brother” (nī) and the suffix title –san. Job 1:18 uses a smilar term with the additional honorific prefix o: o-nī-san (お兄さん). (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also brother (older brother).

complete verse (1 Samuel 17:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 17:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Also take ten containers of butter (cottage cheese) to their commander. Check carefully to see how your brothers are living and report to me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Take these 10 cheeses to the captain. Come, having seen what all your brothers are doing, and come bringing one sign that they are in good health” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Bring also ten-pieces of cheese for the commander of the soldiers. Check how the situation of your (sing.) siblings/(brothers) (is), and [you (sing.)] return/come-back here bringing assurance/testimony that their situation (is) good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And here are ten large chunks of cheese. Take them to their commander. And see how things are going with your older brothers. Then if they are okay, bring back something to show they are all right.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 17:18

Ten cheeses: literally “ten slices [or, pieces] of milk.” This is called “cream-cheeses” in Revised English Bible. The translation of both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation sounds as if it may have been ten different kinds of cheese. But this is certainly not the intended meaning. Contemporary English Version sounds much more natural in English (“ten large chunks of cheese”), since the exact amount is not certain. So perhaps the best alternative in English is Klein’s “ten slices of cheese” or Anchor Bible‘s “ten cuts of cheese.” In some languages people speak of a “round” of cheese or a “ball” of cheese.

The commander of their thousand: the number thousand is probably not intended as a precise term. In Num 1.16 this term is translated in Revised Standard Version as “clans.” Various terms in English express the correct meaning: “their commanding officer” (Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible), “the field officer” (New American Bible), and “the commander of their regiment” (Moffatt), although New American Bible leaves implicit the idea contained in the pronoun their.

Bring some token from them, that is, bring something back from them to show that they received the food and to show that they are well. Some have suggested that this means that David should bring home their pay, but this seems much less likely than the generally accepted meaning of anything that would prove that David’s brothers were well.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .