prostitute oneself / play the prostitute

The Hebrew that is translated as “prostitute oneself” or “play the prostitute” in English is translated in Vidunda as “(practice) sexual immorality.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jerusalem .

Judah, Judea

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)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

complete verse (2 Chronicles 21:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 21:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “But you followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel. You also caused the people of Judah and Jerusalem to refuse to trust/believe in me as the house of Ahab did. And again, you killed your brothers who were more kind than you are.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You are not like your father Jehoshaphat or like king Asa. But you became like the clan of Ahab. You became like those northern kings of Israel. By provoking the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do puja to idols you caused them to sin against the LORD. You also killed your younger brothers, they were better men than you. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Instead, you followed the way-of-living of the kings of Israel. You enticed those of/from-Juda and those of/from-Jerusalem to worship little-gods/false-gods like what Ahab had-done. You also killed your own siblings who were better than you.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Instead, you have continually done the evil things that the kings of Israel have done. You have encouraged the people in Jerusalem and other places in Judah to stop worshiping Yahweh, like the descendants of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, who were more righteous men than you are.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

king

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:

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  • 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 21:13

But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel: See the comments on 2Chr 21.6. But correctly renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it marks the contrast between the behavior of Jehoshaphat and Asa in verse 12 and that of Jehoram in this verse. La Bible du Semeur begins with “On the contrary.”

And have led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness: See the comments on verse 11.

As the house of Ahab led Israel into unfaithfulness: As in verse 6, the house of Ahab refers to the successors of King Ahab and not just his immediate family.

And also you have killed your brothers, of your father’s house: See verse 4. Of your father’s house may be a misleading expression. This phrase may be rendered “members of your father’s household,” “sons of your own father,” or “your own family” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Who were better than yourself: The brothers of Jehoram were morally better than he was. Their moral superiority may be made explicit by saying “who were more righteous than you are.”

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 21:13

21:13a but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel

But you have done ⌊bad things⌋ like the kings of Israel.
-or-
Instead, you have done what the ⌊sinful⌋ kings of Israel do.

21:13b and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves,

You have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to sin ⌊against Yahweh
-or-
You have made the people of Judah and Jerusalem worship false gods

21:13c just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself.

just as the family of Ahab did.
-or-
just like King Ahab’s relatives do.

21:13d You have also killed your brothers,

You have even murdered your own brothers,
-or-
You have killed your own brothers

21:13e your father’s family,

your own father’s children,
-or-
who were your own relatives.

21:13f who were better than you.

people who were better than you.
-or-
They were better people than you are.

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