1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
In Aekyom, years are counted as “turtles” (ambum).
Norm Mundhenk tells this story:
“Recently I was checking some New Testament material in the Aekyom language of western Papua New Guinea. It seemed relatively clear until suddenly we came to a passage that started, ‘When Jesus had 12 turtles, …’ Surely I had misunderstood what they said.
“‘Did you say that Jesus had 12 turtles?’
“‘Let us explain! Around here there is a certain time every year when river turtles come up on the banks and lay their eggs. Because this is so regular, it can be used as a way of counting years. Someone’s age is said to be how many turtles that person has. So when we say that Jesus had 12 turtles, we mean that Jesus was 12 years old.’
“It was of course the familiar story of Jesus’ trip with his parents to Jerusalem. And certainly, as we all know, Jesus did indeed have 12 turtles at that time!”
In Tok Pisin, krismas (derived from “christmas”) is taken as the fixed annual marker, so Jesus had 12 “christmases” (Jisas i gat 12-pela krismas pinis) or Abram (in Gen. 12:4) had 75 (Abram i gat 75 krismas) (source: Norm Mundhenk). In Noongar it is biroka kadak or “summers had” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
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:
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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 25:1:
Kupsabiny: “Amaziah began to rule having twenty-five years, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was called Jehoaddan and (she) came from Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan, she was from Jerusalem.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Amazia was 25 years old when he became king. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned within the (period) of 29 years. His mother was Jehoadin who of/from-Jerusalem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Amaziah was 25 years old when he became the king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Jehoaddin; she was from Jerusalem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Amaziah was …: This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating Amaziah’s age when he took over (twenty-five years old), the length of his reign (twenty-nine years), his capital (Jerusalem), his mother’s name (Jeho-addan), and her origin (Jerusalem). See the comments on 2 Chr 13.2. The name Amaziah means “Yahweh is strong,” but a prophet has to remind him that God is strong (see verse 8). The king’s mother, Jeho-addan, is called “Jehoaddin” in 2 Kgs 14.2, which is the basis for the Good News Translation rendering here also in 2 Chronicles. Contemporary English Version, New International Version, and other versions also harmonize the spelling of this name.
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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