Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )
The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Solomon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wise” referring to 1 Kings 3:12. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 9:2:
Kupsabiny: “At that time, Solomon answered all those questions so that not even a single question defeated (him).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Solomon answered all her questions. Not a single question was difficult for him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Solomon answered all her questions and there was nothing whatever thing that he could- not -explain to her.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Solomon answered all her questions. He explained everything that she asked about, even things that were very difficult.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
And Solomon answered all her questions: Questions is literally “words,” but most modern versions agree with Revised Standard Version‘s rendering here.
There was nothing hidden from Solomon which he could not explain to her: Hidden in this context means “too difficult” (Good News Translation) or “too hard” (New Living Translation, Revised English Bible). The Hebrew text has two negatives here (nothing and could not). But the basic meaning may be better translated positively in some languages as follows: “he gave her accurate solutions to every problem she posed” or “he explained correctly all of the riddles that she asked him.”
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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