The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Jehoshaphat” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “mixup” referring to the fateful alliance with king Ahab of Israel in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 20:35:
Kupsabiny: “Then in the end, Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahaziah, the king of Israel who was a sinner.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Later Jehoshaphat united with Israel’s wicked king, Ahazia.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But at the end part of the reign of Jehoshafat in Juda, he made-an-alliance/joined with King Ahazia of Israel, who was a wicked man.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “During his reign, Jehoshaphat made a treaty with Ahaziah, the king of Israel, who was a very wicked king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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:
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.”
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel: Since the reign of Jehoshaphat has already been summed up in the previous verse, it is unclear exactly how the Hebrew word rendered After this is to be understood. It has been translated “Later” (New International Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible) and “Afterwards” (New Jerusalem Bible). Some take it to refer to the final days of the life of Jehoshaphat by saying “At the end of his life” (Knox) or “But near the end of his life” (New Living Translation). Others take it as referring to the time after the defeat of the enemy armies in verses 1-30. But Good News Translation translates it in a rather neutral way by saying “At one time.” A general rendering such as this is preferable here. Joined with means specifically that military cooperation was agreed on between the two kings. So this phrase is better translated “made an alliance with” (Good News Translation) or “allied himself to” (Moffatt).
Who did wickedly is literally “he did evil to do.” This clause stands alone as the second half of the verse in the Hebrew text, and it is not clear whether it refers to Jehoshaphat or to Ahaziah. Some take this clause as a description of the habitual character of Ahaziah, the king of Israel, and not in the sense of a particular act that he committed (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible). However, others believe this clause refers to Jehoshaphat, showing that his decision to align himself with Ahaziah was a serious error; for example, New Century Version translates this whole verse as “Later, Jehoshaphat … made a treaty with Ahaziah … which was a wrong thing to do.” Compare also “Afterwards, Jehoshaphat formed a partnership with Ahaziah … which was very wrong of him” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “Afterward, King Jehoshaphat of Judah entered into a partnership with King Ahaziah of Israel, thereby acting wickedly” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).
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 .
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