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 33:1:
Kupsabiny: “Manasseh started to rule Judah when he had twenty-two years. He ruled from the city of Jerusalem for fifty-five years.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Manasse was twelve years old when he became king. He lived in Jerusalem, and he reigned for 55 years.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Manasseh was 12 years old when he became the king of Judah, and he ruled from Jerusalem for 55 years.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
This verse follows the common formula that is used to summarize the reign of a ruler of Israel or Judah by stating Manasseh’s age when he took over (twelve years old), the length of his reign (fifty-five years), and his capital (Jerusalem). However, it does not mention his mother’s name. See the comments on 2 Chr 12.13.
Since this is the beginning of a new section, Good News Translation translates he began to reign as “he became king of Judah.”
He reigned fifty-five years: When the dates for the kings who ruled before and after Manasseh are calculated, it is difficult to explain the number fifty-five. The number “forty-five” seems to fit better. One way to solve the chronological problem is to assume that the first ten years of the young King Manasseh’s rule overlapped with the reign of his father Hezekiah. If this is done, then Manasseh ruled 697–642 B.C. Some scholars suggest that he had a shorter reign of 687–642 B.C. However, all interpreters are agreed that the text says fifty-five years, and this is what must be translated in the receptor language.
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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