The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 15:23:
Kupsabiny: “Pekahiah son of Menahem started to rule Israel when Uzziah had fifty years having ruled the country of Judah. He ruled from the city of Samaria for two years.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “During the fiftieth year of Azariah, King of Israel, Pekahiah, son of Menahem, became King of Israel in Samaria. He reigned for two years.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Pekaya the child/(son) of Menahem became king of Israel in the 50th year of the reign of Azaria in Juda. Pekaya lived in Samaria, and he reigned for a period of/[lit. inside] two years.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “When King Uzziah had been ruling Judah for almost 50 years, Menahem’s son Pekahiah became the king of Israel. He ruled in Samaria for only two years.” (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.”
15:23a In the fiftieth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah,
When Uzziah had ruled over Judah for fifty years,
-or-
During the fiftieth year of Uzziah’s reign/rule over Judah,
15:23b Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel
Pekahiah son of Menahem became king ⌊of/over the land/people⌋ of Israel. He ruled from/in ⌊the city of⌋ Samaria,
-or-
Menahem’s son Pekahiah started to rule Israel. He ruled ⌊there⌋ in Samaria ⌊city⌋
15:23c and reigned in Samaria two years.
and his rule/reign lasted two years.
-or-
for ⌊only⌋ two years.
15:23a-c (reordered)
Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to rule Israel when Uzziah had been ruling Judah for fifty (50) years. Pekahiah ruled Israel for ⌊only⌋ two years. His capital city was Samaria.
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