years (age)

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).

See also advanced in years.

complete verse (2 Kings 11:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 11:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then he took the commanders, the guards of the house of the king, the other guards and all the common/lay people and made them escort the king. They left the House of God and passed by the gate of the guards up to the home of the king. Then Joash sat down on his chair of rulership. He had/was at that time seven years (of age).
    So, all the people of Judah were happy and then peace came to the city of Jerusalem because Athaliah had been killed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joash was seven years old when he became King of Judah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Joash was seven years old when he reigned in Juda.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joash was seven years old when he became the king of Judah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 11:21

Ch 12.1 in Hebrew.

Jehoash: The new king is called “Joash” in verse 2 of this chapter, but here and in the following verses in chapter 12, the longer form of the same name is used. In order to avoid confusion, the shorter form should be used throughout the Bible when referring to the king of Judah with this name. The king of Israel bearing the same name would then be referred to consistently as “Jehoash,” using the longer form of the name (so Good News Translation). In this way readers will be better able to distinguish between the two rulers. See Appendix B, “Who’s Who among the Kings?”

Seven years old: It becomes clear at this point that Joash was only a year old when the events described in verses 1-3 took place. He became king about 835 B.C.

When he began to reign: It will be quite appropriate to add “over Judah” at the end of this clause. In certain languages the model of Good News Translation will be helpful for translating the verb here (“became king of”).

There is a difference in the chapter division here between most English versions on the one hand and Roman Catholic versions like New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible on the other hand. This is because the modern Catholic versions follow the numbering system of the Hebrew text while the English tradition generally stays with the chapter division of the Latin Vulgate. Translators are advised to adopt whichever system is already commonly known by Bible readers in their area. This means that in countries where French or Spanish is spoken, the Hebrew system should be adopted and verse 21 should become the first verse in chapter 12. But in translations that will appear in countries where English is the national language, the Latin Vulgate system should probably be followed.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 11:21

11:21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.

The Hebrew text has “Jehoash,” a different form of the name “Joash.”

Joash was seven years of age when he began ro reign over Judah.

-or-

And Joash became the king ⌊of Judah⌋ at the age of seven.

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