king

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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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Maccabees 4:23

After a period of three years Jason sent Menelaus, the brother of the previously mentioned Simon: After a period of three years refers to the time that had passed since Jason became High Priest (verse 10), not since the events in the previous section. A clear way to express this is “Three years after Jason became High Priest.” The previously mentioned Simon translates a Greek phrase that is slightly different from the one in verse 1, but the meaning is the same, so translators may use the same expression here.

To carry the money to the king: We are not told what money is involved, so saying the money is misleading. It suggests that the writer is referring to money already mentioned, which does not seem to be the case. This is why Good News Bible says “some money,” and New English Bible has simply “money.”

And to complete the records of essential business: The exact meaning of this clause is uncertain, so it is translated in rather different ways. New English Bible has “and to carry out his directions about urgent business,” while Revised English Bible uses “and to carry out agreed decisions on some urgent business.” Goldstein reads “and as his agent for executing royal decisions on pressing matters.” New Jerusalem Bible translates “and to complete negotiations on various essential matters.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Abel are similar to New Jerusalem Bible, but Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has a note admitting that the sense is unclear. Contemporary English Version says “in order to do some important business,” and New American Bible has “and to obtain decisions on some important matters” (similarly Good News Bible). Translators may follow any of these versions. However, it is possible to render the clause by covering what is essential without being too precise as follows: “and to conduct some urgent business.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Three years after Jason became High Priest, he sent Menelaus (the brother of the Simon mentioned earlier) to take [some] money to the king and to conduct some urgent business.

• Three years after Jason became High Priest, he sent Menelaus to take some money to the king and to do some important business. Menelaus was the brother of Simon whom I mentioned earlier.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.