remember

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “remember” in English is translated in Mairasi as “it is (or: place it) in your liver’s crack” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar as barrang-dwangka, literally “ear-hold” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

In Kalmyk, there is no equivalent to “remember,” so the translation there is “don’t forget.” (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

See also forget, wisdom, God remembered Noah and Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

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 9:26

I therefore urge and beseech you: The word therefore is not an appropriate connector here. Good News Bible is better with “Now.” The verbs urge and beseech are similar in meaning and may be combined as “strongly urge” (Good News Bible). The pronoun you is plural in Greek. Antiochus is addressing many people. This is brought out by Revised Standard Version with each of you later in the verse. Good News Bible puts it at the beginning of its model. We can also say “all of you.”

To remember the public and private services rendered to you may be rendered “to remember the favors I did for you, both publicly and privately” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Antiochus shows the bitterest kind of sarcasm here. The letter, so correct on the surface, is clearly a threat to the Jews that their persecution is not over. It will prove almost impossible to build this into the translation. The translator will have to leave it to the reader to understand why such an evil king writes such an innocent letter.

And to maintain your present good will, each of you, toward me and my son may be rendered “and to continue being good toward both me and my son” (similarly Contemporary English Version). Good News Bible also provides a good model here.

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.