ashes on the head

The now commonly-used German idiom Asche auf mein Haupt (literally “ashes on my head”), which today is primarily used meaning “mea culpa,” often humorously, was made popular in 1534 in the German Bible translation by Martin Luther. (Source: Redewendungen aus der Bibel )

For other idioms or terms in German that were coined by Bible translation, see here.

complete verse (2 Samuel 13:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 13:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Tamar smeared her head with ash and tore her dress, and then she placed her hands on her head and went around crying.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the royal robe she was wearing, put her hands on her head, and went out weeping.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “What Tamar did was, she tore her beautiful and long clothes/garment, and put ashes on her head. Then walked-away weeping while she was-covering her face with her hand.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But Tamar tore the long robe that she was wearing, and put ashes on her head to show that she was very sad. Then she put her hands on her head to show that she was grieving, and she went away, crying.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 13:19

And: the transition word here serves merely to introduce the next step in the story. It may be unnecessary to translate it at all.

The writer shows Tamar performing four actions that are often connected with mourning for the dead. But in this case the grief had been caused by the loss of her virginity. In some languages it may be advisable to introduce these actions by saying that she “showed her grief [or, sorrow] by….”

Put ashes on her head: ashes are frequently mentioned in connection with showing sadness (for example, Est 5.3; Jonah 3.6; Ezek 27.30).

Rent the long robe: because the robe she wore was associated with virginity, some commentators speculate that tearing it was a symbol of the loss of her purity. But more than likely this action was merely a sign of anguish. While the tearing of clothing is most often associated with mourning a death, there are cases where it is used to show grief for other causes, as, for example, in the story of Naaman the leper (see 2 Kgs 5.7). Long robe translates the same two Hebrew nouns rendered “long robe with sleeves” in verse 18.

Laid her hand on her head: the image of Good News Translation is more in keeping with what may be done in Western culture, but may not be the best translation of this expression. In many places in the world, the placing of both hands on the top of the head is a sign of grief. While the word hand is singular, it may be used collectively here. So it is quite possible to translate “placed her hands on top of her head.” Compare Jer 2.37, where the plural is used, and note that here in 2 Samuel New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “put her hands on her head.” The Septuagint has the plural “hands,” and this is followed by Osty-Trinquet and New American Bible.

The verb describing the fourth action related to mourning is rendered crying aloud. It normally indicates more than mere “sobbing” (Revised English Bible). For this reason most versions add an adjective as in Revised Standard Version. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh makes it even stronger, with “screaming loudly.”

Went away: that is, she left the area around the house of Amnon. The text does not say where she went at this point, but the context seems to indicate that she went to the house of her brother Absalom.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .