self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (2 Chronicles 10:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 10:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “Rehoboam replied to those people, ‘You just go home and then return again to where I am when three days have passed.’ Then, those people went away.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Rehoboam said to them, "Give [me] three day’s time to consider this matter. You come [back] after three days." So the people went away.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Rehoboam replied, ‘You (plur.) give me first three days to think- this -over, then you (plur.) come-back to me.’ So the people went-home.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He replied, ‘Come back three days from now and I will give you my answer.’ So those leaders and Jeroboam left.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 10:5

He said to them: Since the pronoun “his” in verse 4 refers to Solomon, Good News Translation, New International Version, and New Living Translation replace the pronoun He with the name “Rehoboam” to avoid any ambiguity. In this context the verb said may be better translated “answered” (New International Version, New Century Version, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “replied” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation).

Come to me again in three days: God’s Word and La Bible du Semeur render in three days more idiomatically as “the day after tomorrow,” since the current day was counted as the first day.

In languages where indirect discourse is preferred, this quotation may be rendered indirectly by saying “Then Rehoboam asked them to give him three days to think about it” or “Rehoboam requested that they go away and come back in three days so that he could consider their request.”

So the people went away: The common Hebrew conjunction here is translated So in order to show the logical relationship between Rehoboam’s reply and the departure of the people to whom he had been speaking.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Chronicles 10:5

10:5a Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.”

Rehoboam said to them, “⌊Let me think about this, and⌋ come back after three days.”
-or-
⌊When King Rehoboam heard this⌋ he told them to come back three days later.

10:5b So the people departed.

So the people of Israel left.
-or-
So the people went home.

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