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)
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Edom revolted from the rule of Judah: In his days is during the time that Jehoram was ruler over the kingdom of Judah. During the reign of Jehoshaphat, the people of Edom had been subject to the southern kingdom (see the comments on 2 Kgs 3.8-9). This begins a new topic in the reign of Jehoram, and for this reason most versions begin a new paragraph at this point. Edom’s revolt against Judah fulfills the words of Isaac to Esau in Gen 27.40.
Instead of Edom, some languages will require “the people of Edom,” “the Edomites” (Parole de Vie), or possibly “the kingdom of Edom” as the subject of the verb revolted.
Revolted from the rule of Judah is literally “revolted from under the hand of Judah.” The translation of this expression in other languages may be something like “refused to submit to the king of Judah” or “stopped obeying the king of Judah.” Some other possible translations are “rebelled against Judah’s rule” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “renounced their allegiance to Juda” (Knox), and “threw off the domination of Judah” (New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet).
Set up a king of their own: The text actually has a causative form of the Hebrew verb meaning “to become king [or queen].” Jewish Publication Version translates “made a king over themselves.” Another possibility would be “chose their own king” (New Century Version; similarly New American Bible). According to 1 Kgs 22.47, a governor or deputy appointed by the king of Judah had ruled Edom while it was under the domination of Judah.
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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