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 18:28:
Kupsabiny: “Then, that person shouted in the language of the Hebrews, ‘Listen to the words of the great king, the one of Assyria!” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then the field commander stood up and spoke loudly in the Hebrew language like this, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then the commander stood and shouted in a Hebrew language, ‘[You (plur.)] listen to the message of the mighty king of Asiria!” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then the official stood up and shouted in the Hebrew language to the people sitting on the wall. He said, ‘Listen to this message from the great king, the king of Assyria. He says,” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Ge’ez, 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.”
Stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: The Hebrew text reads literally “stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah and he spoke and said.” For reasons of English style Revised Standard Version does not translate the words “and he spoke and said.” The verb stood seems to indicate taking a position to make an important public pronouncement—especially in view of the fact that it is followed by called out. New American Bible translates the first of these two verbs as “stepped forward.” As in verse 26, the language of Judah may be translated “Hebrew” (Good News Translation).
Regarding the words the great king, see the comments on verse 19.
The direct quotation may be made indirect in this verse; for example, the whole verse may be rendered as follows:
• Then the official stepped forward and called out loudly in Hebrew that everyone should listen to what the Great King of Assyria wanted them to know.
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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