king

Click here to view graphically

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:

(Click or tap here to see details)

  • 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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 8:8

When Philip saw that the man was gaining ground little by little, and that he was pushing ahead with more frequent successes: Philip was the governor of Jerusalem (see 2Macc 5.22). The man is Judas Maccabeus. Philip saw that Judas was making steady progress, and that his victories were becoming more frequent. Gaining ground little by little does not necessarily imply acquiring territory, though this was no doubt involved, only that Judas was having some success. For he was pushing ahead with more frequent successes, Good News Bible may be used as a model, but this clause may also be rendered “he was winning more and more victories” or even “he was capturing more towns and villages.” For the first half of this verse Revised English Bible has “When Philip realized that the gains made by Judas, though small, were occurring with increasing frequency,” or we may even say “When Philip, the governor of Jerusalem, realized that Judas and his soldiers were winning more victories [or, defeating the Gentiles more and more], and slowly taking over more and more territory.”

He wrote to Ptolemy, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, for aid to the king’s government: Philip called on his superior for help. This Ptolemy was mentioned earlier 2Macc 4.45. For Coelesyria see the comments on 1Macc 10.69; for Phoenicia see the comments on 2Macc 3.5. For aid to the king’s government may be rendered “to protect the government [or, interests] of King Antiochus.” In those languages that require direct speech, translators may render the last half of this verse as “he wrote a letter to Ptolemy the governor of Greater Syria and Phoenicia, saying, ‘Dear Governor Ptolemy, please help me defend King Antiochus’ interests here in Judea.’”

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.