The name that is transliterated as “Elisha” in English means “God the Savior,” “to whom God is salvation,” “God of salvation,” “God is Savior.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “help + prophet.” (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 13:16:
Kupsabiny: “Then, Elisha said to the king, ‘Pull the bow.’ Joash pulled the bow and then Elisha placed his hands on the hands of the king.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then Elisha said to the King of Israel, "Take the bow in your hands." He took the bow with his hands. Elisha put his own hands on top of the King’s hands.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then he was-told by Elisha that he would-hold the bow. When he held it, Elisha held his hand” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then Elisha told the king to put his hands on the bow and prepare to shoot some arrows. And then Elisha put his own hands on the king’s hands.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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:
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.”
“Draw the bow”; and he drew it …: As in the previous verse, a direct command is given here and its fulfillment is emphasized by the repetition of the words of the command. But it may be more natural in some languages to use indirect speech in the first part and a shorter summary statement for the second part (so Good News Translation). At this point in the story the bow is drawn and King Jehoash is ready to let the arrow go. But he has not yet done so. The prophet then places his hands over the hands of Jehoash who is holding the bow and arrow.
Draw the bow is literally “Make your hand ride on the bow.” The sense is probably that the king was to bend the bow in order to fasten the cord on the end of the bow.
Elisha laid his hands upon the king’s hands: The text does not indicate the significance of this action, but most likely this was a symbolic act indicating that God was with the king in his military undertakings.
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 .
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