son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

complete verse (2 Samuel 20:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 20:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “Adoram was in charge of the people who are forced to work. But/And Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was an adviser/assistant of the king.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Adoniram had been given responsibility for work done in as slave labor. Jehoshaphat sone of Ahilud was the History recorder.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The [one] in-charge-of the slaves who were-forced to labor was Adoniram. The [one] in-charge-of the records/documents of the kingdom was Jehoshafat the child of Ahilud.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Adoram supervised the men who were forced to work for the king; Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the man who reported to the people everything that David decided;” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 20:24

Adoram: the ancient Greek and Syriac translations suggest the name “Adoniram.” Also in 1 Kgs 4.6 and 5.14, the person holding this position under King Solomon is called Adoniram. Probably Adoram is simply a variant of the name Adoniram, so it is permissible to use the same name here as in 1 Kings.

In charge of the forced labor: this office is not mentioned in the list in chapter 8. The function may be expressed in some languages as “captain of those who worked against their will” or “chief of those who compelled other people to work.”

Recorder: see 8.16, where the same name is given for this office.

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 .