Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 13:18:
Kupsabiny: “Then, Elisha said, ‘Take those arrows.’ Joash took the arrows. Elisha said, ‘Strike the ground/down with the arrows.’ He stroke/beat with those arrows three times and then became quiet/stopped.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then he said to the King, "Take the arrows!" and the king took the arrows. Elisha said, "Strike the ground." The King struck it three times with the arrows and stopped.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Elisha again told Jehoash to get some arrows. And when he got-(some), Elisha said, ‘Shoot the ground.’ And he shot the ground three times, and then he stopped.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then Elisha said, ‘Pick up the other arrows and strike the ground with them!’ So the king picked up the arrows and struck the ground three times.” (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.”
The pronoun he at the beginning of this verse may be confusing. It refers to Elisha, and in many languages the proper name should probably be used to avoid misunderstanding.
The text continues to present the commands of Elisha as direct quotations followed by a clear statement of their fulfillment in each case. But if indirect discourse is preferred, it is certainly acceptable.
The arrows must, of course, refer to those remaining and not the one that had already been shot through the window. In some languages it will be more natural to say “the remaining arrows” or something similar.
And he took them is literally “and he took.” Revised Standard Version has added the pronoun them, which is required in English. In fact, the vast majority of English versions do so. New American Bible, however, says simply “which he did.”
The second command of the prophet in this verse is fulfilled by King Jehoash, but a new element is added in the fulfillment. The prophet ordered him to Strike the ground with them, but without specifying how many times this should be done. King Jehoash does so three times and this number becomes significant later in the story.
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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