The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
In his days; that is, during the reign of Jehoiakim over Judah. New Century Version, like Good News Translation, translates “While Jehoiakim was king” (similarly Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Compare 2 Kgs 23.29, where the same expression is used. According to Jer 25.1-38, it was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign that Jeremiah received the message from the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Judah and Jerusalem; according to Dan 1.1-2, Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim’s reign.
Nebuchadnezzar ruled for forty-three years (605–562 B.C.). His name is spelled with the letter “r” (Nebuchadrezzar) instead of the letter “n” (Nebuchadnezzar) in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. In the books of 2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and a few times in Jeremiah, his name is spelled with an “n” as here in this verse. Some translations, such as Revised Standard Version, keep the two different spellings in English, but translators are urged to choose one spelling and use it throughout the Old Testament.
This ruler’s name is spelled “Nabu-kudurri-usur” in Akkadian (the Babylonian language was a dialect of Akkadian). The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate refer to him as “Nabouchodonosor,” and this spelling is the basis for the spelling of his name in most Spanish versions and in several French versions (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible du Semeur, La Bible Pléiade).
King of Babylon: This expression refers not just to kingship over the city of Babylon, but the entire territory of Babylonia. See the comments at 2 Kgs 20.12.
Came up: As in 2 Kgs 23.29, an ordinary verb is used here to describe a definite military maneuver. Many languages may prefer a more precise expression, such as “attacked” (La Bible du Semeur), “moved against” (New American Bible), “undertook a military expedition” (Peregrino, em>Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “invaded” (New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Knox). Hebrew leaves implicit the object of the attack. But this may be made explicit as against “Judah” (Good News Translation, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Bible en français courant) or against “Jehoiakim” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). This attack occurred in the years 604–603 B.C.
Jehoiakim became his servant three years: In many languages the verb “become” does not fit naturally with an expression that speaks of a longer period of time like three years. The meaning of the text is that Jehoiakim became subservient to Nebuchadnezzar and that he remained in that position for a period of three years. The translation should not, however, convey the notion that Jehoiakim was the domestic servant of the king of Babylonia. Rather, Jehoiakim and all the people of Judah were subordinate to Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylonia.
Then he turned and rebelled: The presence of the verb turned has been interpreted by some scholars as meaning that this was a second revolt; for example, New Jerusalem Bible says “but then [he] rebelled against him a second time,” and La Bible du Semeur has “then he revolted against him again.” But it is more likely that it signified a change from his previous attitude of submissiveness. It is probably better, therefore, to translate simply “but finally he rebelled” or “then he did an about face and revolted against him” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; similarly Osty-Trinquet).
The writer does not indicate the reason for Jehoiakim’s revolt, but historical sources indicate that in 601/600 B.C., the Egyptian army drove the Babylonian troops back to the east. With this temporary defeat of the Babylonian army, Jehoiakim saw this as a good time to rebel against Babylonian domination.
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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