son vs. grandson

“Son of x, son of y” must be rendered as “son of x and grandson of y” in Tibetan or else it will sound like two different people.

Note: The same translation solution is chosen in many contemporary English Bibles that emphasize easy readability, such as the Contemporary English Version, Common English Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, or New Living Translation.

See also father / grandfather.

Jehoshaphat

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Jehoshaphat” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “mixup” referring to the fateful alliance with king Ahab of Israel in 1 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 18. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Jehoshaphat” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information about Jehoshaphat .

complete verse (2 Kings 9:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 9:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “And when you reach there look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. Then take him aside where others cannot see inside the house.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When you get there, look for Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, grandson of Nimshi. Having gone into his place, separate him from his friends, and take him to an inner room.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When you (sing.) arrived there, [you (sing.)] look for Jehu the child of Jehoshafat and grandchild/(grandson) of Nimshi. [You (sing.)] take- him -away from his companions and bring him into a room just the two of you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When you arrive there, search for a man named Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Go with him into a room away from his companions,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 9:2

When you arrive, look there …: The adverb there occurs twice here in the Hebrew text, which is literally “when you arrive there, then look there….” The placement of the adverb there in Revised Standard Version seems odd in English. It goes more logically with the verb arrive (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version). This may well be the case in many other languages.

Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi: It is Jehoshaphat who was the son of Nimshi. It may be more natural to maintain the focus on the primary character, Jehu, by translating son of Nimshi as “grandson of Nimshi” (so Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Contemporary English Version). Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehu, should not be confused with King Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kgs 15.24; 22.41-50).

Go in and bid him rise from among his fellows: Elisha assumes that Jehu would be found in a place with several other people. The words go in probably mean to go among Jehu and his group of fellow officers rather than to go inside a building. The context (especially verse 6) indicates that this group of military leaders was probably meeting in an open courtyard rather than inside an enclosed building. The young prophet was to ensure privacy by requesting that Jehu get up and follow him inside the building there to a room where others would not be present. His fellows is literally “his brothers,” but the sense is “his fellow-officers” (Revised English Bible), as verse 5 makes clear.

An inner chamber is literally “a chamber in a chamber.” See the comments on 1 Kgs 20.30, where the same expression occurs. The Hebrew term for chamber usually refers to something like a bedroom, which would be considered one of the most private locations possible. The word is used in the story of Samson (Jdg 15.1; 16.9, 12) and the account of the murder of Ishbosheth (2 Sam 4.7). Compare also 1 Kgs 1.15; 22.25; 2 Kgs 6.12. Since privacy is the most important consideration here, the rendering of Contemporary English Version may be a good model for certain languages: “a place where the two of you can be alone.”

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 .