Asa

The name that is transliterated as “Asa” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts the concept of order and mandates. As the third king of Judah, Asa ordered the destruction of the altars, he took the cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made (see 1 Kings 15:11 and following). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Asa” in Libras (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see this article in Christianity Today .

king

Click here to view graphically

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:

(Click or tap here to see details)

  • 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 2 Chronicles 15:16

The events in this verse are also recorded in 1 Kgs 15.13.

Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother: Even, which is literally “And also,” is an appropriate translation here because what is described in this verse is astonishing. Maacah was the wife of King Rehoboam (2 Chr 11.20), so she was the grandmother of Asa, not his mother. Some versions say “his grandmother” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible). The mother or grandmother of a young king sometimes acted on behalf of the king. This probably happened when Asa first became king and Maacah was his regent. Given the importance of this woman, it is surprising that Asa was able to depose her. The Hebrew verb rendered removed is translated in New Living Translation and Moffatt as “deposed,” which is a more technical word used in the context of overthrowing rulers. If the receptor language has a verb with this particular usage, it will be appropriate to use it here. It is not clear whether the Hebrew word rendered queen mother refers to an official position with specific duties or whether it was simply a title with no formal status or duties in the government. In any case, various queen mothers had considerable influence in the religious and political life of the nation of Judah.

Because she had made an abominable image for Asherah: A literal translation here in some languages will suggest that Maacah herself made the idol of Asherah. For this reason Revised English Bible says “because she had an obscene object made for the worship of Asherah.” The Hebrew noun rendered abominable image occurs only here and in 1 Kgs 15.13. This noun comes from a root that means “to shake.” Its meaning is uncertain, although it is usually thought to mean “horror” (La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). Other translations include “obscene idol” (Good News Translation), “outrageous object” (New American Bible), and “obscenity” (New Jerusalem Bible). The exact nature of this object is unknown, but it was clearly objectionable to those who worshiped Yahweh. For the goddess Asherah, see the comments on 2 Chr 14.3.

Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron: Image renders the same Hebrew word translated abominable image. Since this image of Asherah was in the form a wooden “pole” (New International Version), it could be cut down, crushed, and burned. After Asa cut it down, he smashed it into pieces, and then burned the pieces. The brook Kidron was a valley to the east of Jerusalem between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. The word brook renders a Hebrew noun that may be translated more precisely as “wadi” (Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), that is, a valley or deep gully which is usually dry in the dry season but carries rushing water in the rainy season. Nouvelle version Segond révisée and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible say “ravine.”

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 .