Jordan

The Hebrew, Greek and Ge’ez that is translated as “Jordan” means “descending (rapidly),” “flowing down.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the river bordering Jordan and Israel, along with the general sign for river. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Jordan river” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jordan River .

complete verse (2 Samuel 19:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 19:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then those people crossed that river so that they go and cross (back) with the people of the king and do anything that the king would tell them.
    When the king wanted to cross the river, Shimei came and fell/knelt down in front of him” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then, crossing over to the other side, they took the king’s clan along and they agreed to do in accordance with all the king’s orders.
    Then Shimei, son of Gera, crossing over the river, fell prostrate before the king,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They all helped David and his household to cross-over the river, and they obeyed whatever David wants.
    When David was-about-to-cross-over the River Jordan, Shimei knelt-down before him” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “and then they all prepared to take the king and all his family across the river, at the place where they could walk across it. They wanted to do whatever the king wanted them to do. As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei came to him and prostrated himself in front of the king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 19:18

They crossed is based on a suggested correction of the Masoretic Text, which is literally “the crossing crossed.” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} evaluation to the MT here and, following an ancient Jewish interpretation, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament suggests that the noun “crossing” also meant “a ferry [boat].” Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament therefore recommends the translation “the ferry crossed” (so Bible de Jérusalem, 1998). Perhaps this understanding of the Hebrew is also the basis for the translation “crossed to and fro” (Revised English Bible). Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (they crossed) are based on a change of the final letter of this Hebrew verb. The Septuagint has “they performed the service,” and this text is followed by New Jerusalem Bible, which says “and they worked manfully.” Since the Hebrew words “crossed” and “worked” are similar in spelling, as are the Hebrew nouns “crossing” and “work,” it is likely that the Septuagint is based on a scribe’s misreading of the Hebrew text. Translators should follow the recommendation of Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament here.

Ford: although the Hebrew vocabulary is slightly different here, this refers to the same sort of crossing place as mentioned in 15.28; 17.16; and 1 Sam 13.7. The men crossed the river at a place that was particularly well suited for crossing and was habitually used for this purpose by many people.

The king’s household: that is, the members of the king’s family, and this probably included whatever possessions they may have had with them.

To do his pleasure: literally “to do the good in his eyes.” In addition to helping the royal family across the river, the Benjaminites were prepared to do anything else that David may have wanted them to do. Some may translate “to do anything that he asked them to do” or “to do whatever he wished” (New American Bible).

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 .