complete verse (2 Kings 3:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 3:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “But when Ahab had died, the ruler of Moab refused the matters/words of the ruler of Israel.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But after Ahab died, the King of Moab rebelled against the King of Israel.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But after- Ahab -died, he rebelled against the king of Israel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But after King Ahab died, Mesha rebelled against the king of Israel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

king

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:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • 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.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 3:5

But: The Hebrew text begins with the verbal transition meaning “And it happened,” but most translations use a term that shows contrast since the course of action taken by Mesha is the opposite of what he had been doing previously.

When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel: Translators should make it clear that Ahab was a king of Israel and that the rebellion which took place following his death was against “the new king of Israel” (Parole de Vie), who replaced him. A favorable time for a rebellion would be at the point of leadership change. Bible en français courant says “when King Ahab died, Mesha rebelled against his successor Joram.”

Since Mesha is spoken of as the king of Moab in the previous verse, it may be more natural in some languages simply to refer to him by his proper name here, as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant and Contemporary English Version have done.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 3:5

3:5a But after the death of Ahab,

When ⌊King⌋ Ahab died,

-or-

But at the death of Ahab ⌊the king of Israel⌋ ,

3:5b the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.

the king of Moab rebelled against the ⌊new⌋ king of Israel.

-or-

Mesha tried to become independent/free of Israel ⌊and refused to give/pay anything⌋ to King ⌊Joram⌋ .

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