wild animal

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “wild animal” or similar is translated in Newari as “animal that lives in the jungle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 9:15

And the Jews, whom he had not considered worth burying but had planned to throw out with their children to the beasts, for the birds to pick: This is another comment of the author. But had planned to throw out with their children to the beasts, for the birds to pick may be rendered “He was going to throw their bodies, including the bodies of their children, outside the city for the animals and birds to eat.” Contemporary English Version uses direct speech, saying “I also intended to let the birds and the wild animals eat the bodies of the Jews and their children that I had thrown outside.”

He would make, all of them, equal to citizens of Athens: This is another promise of Antiochus. Making the Jews equal to the citizens of Athens means that he would grant them the same legal status and privileges.

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.