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)
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 24:10:
Kupsabiny: “In those days, soldiers of king Nebuchadnezzar went for a raid and they besieged/surrounded Jerusalem.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem and attacked and besieged it.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “At the time of his reign, the officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babilonia attacked Jerusalem, and they besieged it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “While Jehoiachin was king, some officers of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came along with the whole Babylonian army to Jerusalem, and they surrounded the city.” (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 words At that time, which occur also in 2 Kgs 20.12, refer to the short period of Jehoiachin’s three-month reign. Compare “It was during the reign of Jehoiachin that…” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje).
The servants of Nebuchadnezzar probably refers to the officers in the Babylonian army; and, of course, wherever the officers went, the rest of the army followed. Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and Contemporary English Version translate servants as “troops.” But the meaning is not significantly different in either case.
For king of Babylon, see verse 1.
The verb came up is again an ordinary verb used in a rather technical sense to describe a military action. As in verse 1, it may be translated “advanced on” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “attacked” (New American Bible). In the Masoretic Text the verb came up is third person singular. But a singular verb makes no sense here, so nearly all translators follow the reading in the margin of the Masoretic Text, which is third person plural. The Septuagint omits the words the servants of and says simply that Nebuchadnezzar came up to Jerusalem, but the Septuagint text does not represent the original text here.
The passive expression the city was besieged (literally “the city came under siege”) may be made active since the agents of this action were clearly the members of the Babylonian army. Some may have to say “they surrounded the city [to cut off all contact with others].” See the comments at 1 Kgs 15.27 and 2 Kgs 6.24.
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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