pregnant

Click here to view graphically

The Greek, Latin and Hebrew that are translated as “(become) pregnant” in English is rendered as “got belly” (Sranan Tongo and Kituba) as “having two bodies” (Indonesian), as “be-of-womb” (Sinhala), as “heavy” (Balinese), and as “in-a-fortunate-state” (Batak Toba). (Source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)

In Kafa it is translated as “having two lives” (source: Loren Bliese), in Southern Birifor as tara pʊɔ or “having stomach,” in Kamba as “be-heavy” (source for this and above: Andy Warren-Rothlin), in the Swabian 2007 translation by Rudolf Paul as kommt en andere Omständ, lit. “be in different circumstances,” and in Newari as “have in the womb” (source: Newari Back Translation).

In Mairasi it is translated as “have a soul [ghost].” (Source: Enggavoter, 2004)

complete verse (2 Kings 15:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 15:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “But while Menahem was still in that city of Tirzah, he had destroyed the city of Tappuah and destroyed the people of that city together with the all the village areas which were near that place. He also stabbed the stomachs of pregnant women to become open. He did that because those people had refused to support him/come to his aid.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Just at that time, since the people of Tiphsah did not open the gate of the city for him, Menahem, having come from Tirzah, devastatingly destroyed Tiphsah and its surrounding region. He killed everyone who lived in Tipsah. As many women as were pregnant, he even ripped open all their wombs.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At that time, Menahem attacked Tifsa and the places around it until Tirza, for its residents would- not -surrender to him. He killed all the residents of Tifsa, and ripped the womb/belly of the women bearing-a-child/(pregnant).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “While Menahem was ruling in Samaria, he completely destroyed Tappuah village south of Samaria and killed all the people who lived there and in the surrounding territory. He did that because the people in that city refused to surrender to him. With his sword he even ripped open the bellies of pregnant women.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 15:16

The Hebrew adverb used at the beginning of this verse means At that time or “Then” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) in this context.

Sacked: The Hebrew verb used here has also been translated “punished” (New American Bible), “destroyed” (Revised English Bible), and “defeated” (Hobbs). The verb used is actually a very general one meaning “hit” or “strike,” but in this context the idea of destruction is almost certainly present. The same verb is repeated later in this verse, but the repetition will be unnecessary in certain languages (so Good News Translation).

The place name Tappuah is based on one version of the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, but the Hebrew text has “Tiphsah” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Hobbs). According to information given in 1 Kgs 4.24, Tiphsah (later called Thapsacus) was located on the Euphrates River and was therefore nearly 450 kilometers (280 miles) to the north of Samaria. Many commentators find it highly unlikely that Menaham attacked a place so far from Samaria, so they prefer the place name Tappuah (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, American Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet). Tappuah (mentioned in Josh 16.8; 17.8) was located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) to the south of Samaria and about the same distance from Tirzah.

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the name Tappuah arose as an error in spelling in the Greek but acknowledges the difficulty with the reading “Tiphsah,” and therefore, gives only a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text. Since Jeroboam II extended the border of Israel to the north (2 Kgs 14.28), it is possible, though not likely, that the city of Tiphsah on the Euphrates River is intended. It is also possible that Tiphsah here refers to a town in Israel whose location is unknown today.

The Hebrew words translated and its territory from Tirzah on further complicate the understanding of the geography of the text if “Tiphsah” is adopted and is understood as referring to the town of that name on the Euphrates River. These words are taken by Good News Translation and New American Bible as indicating that Menahem detoured to the south plundering Tappuah on his way to Samaria. This understanding would be highly unlikely if the original text had “Tiphsah.” So the two problems have to be dealt with together. On the other hand, it seems very doubtful that the original writer meant to say “he destroyed it [Tiphsah] and all the surrounding towns as far as Tirzah” (Contemporary English Version), since the two towns are more than 450 kilometers (280 miles) apart. If “Tiphsah” is adopted, then the interpretation of from Tirzah found in New International Version seems more likely. The first half of the verse in New International Version reads “At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city and its vicinity.” The possibility also exists, of course, that there was another place called “Tiphsah,” whose existence and location is unknown today, a place that was much nearer to Tirzah and Samaria. If this position is adopted, translators should probably add a footnote to explain that the better known city of Tiphsah on the Euphrates River is not intended.

They did not open it to him is literally “he opened not.” The subject of the third person singular verb in Hebrew here probably refers to Menahem, who did not open the gates of the city, that is, he did not persuade the city’s inhabitants to surrender. Others take the third person singular verb to refer to the city itself, saying “it had not opened its gates to him” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Osty-Trinquet; similarly Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible du Semeur) or “it did not surrender” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The third person singular verb may also be understood as the impersonal plural “they.” New American Bible offers a possible model with “they did not let him in.” In any case, the meaning seems to be that the people in the city refused to open their gates and allow the conquering army to enter and take complete control.

He ripped up all the women in it who were with child: See the comments at 2 Kgs 8.12.

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 .