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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Samuel 17:2

The future tense verb forms in this passage may be unnatural in some languages, since they may suggest that a decision has already been made. Ahithophel is rather requesting permission to do something, as indicated by the initial words Let me … and the often untranslated particle mentioned in the previous verse. So some translators may find it more natural at the beginning of each new sentence to say “I propose to…,” “I would like to…,” or possibly “if you agree, I will….”

Come upon him: this expression means more in this context than simply “find him.” Here it carries the idea “overtake him” (Knox and Revised English Bible) or possibly “take him by surprise” (Bible en français courant). The verb may also be rendered “attack him” as in Good News Translation.

Discouraged: literally “weak of hands” (Fox says “slack of hands”). But most versions take this as figurative language for being “dispirited” (New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible) or “disheartened” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Throw him into a panic: a causative form of a verb meaning “tremble” or “shudder” is used here. The meaning is to “make him to be afraid” or “cause him to fear.” New Century Version seems a little weak, with “frighten him.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible renders this verb “terrorize,” while New American Bible and Anderson have “cause him to panic.”

Strike down: the verb used here is a rather general one meaning “hit” or “beat,” but in this context the sense is clearly that of killing. The verb “kill” is used in Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and Contemporary English Version as well as Good News Translation.

Ahithophel’s use of the term the king for David does not mean that he does not acknowledge Absalom as king. But since this may cause a possible misunderstanding in some languages, it may be better to refer to him in some other way. Contemporary English Version uses his name “David.” Others may prefer to say something like “their king” (referring to those who still followed David), “the one who claims to be king,” or “the man who used to be king.”

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 .