9after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away from Jerusalem Jeconiah and the princes and the prisoners and the nobles and the people of the land and brought them to Babylon.
The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
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:
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.”
The name that is transliterated as “Jeconiah” (or: Jechoniah) in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “slave” and the people of Judah. King Jeconiah, the last king of Judah, was imprisoned and enslaved by Babylon (see Jeremiah 24:1). (Source: Missão Kophós )
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon: Babylon was the capital city of Babylonia. Since Nebuchadnezzar ruled over the whole country of Babylonia and not just its capital city, Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version prefer to refer to “King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia.” The second reference to Babylon in this verse is to the city itself and should be rendered that way.
Carried away from Jerusalem means “deported from [or, forcibly made to leave] Jerusalem.”
The princes and the prisoners: The Greek word for princes here is a general term for “rulers” (Good News Translation) or “important leaders” (Contemporary English Version); it is not the “sons of the kings” found earlier at verse 4. There is a problem with the inclusion of prisoners in this list of exiles, for in a sense, all the exiles were prisoners. Compare Jer 24.1, obviously parallel to this verse, where “craftsmen” appear in the list. The Hebrew word used there can mean either “prisoners” or “metalworkers.” It is reasonable to assume that “craftsmen” are intended here, and that the Greek translator made a mistake with “prisoners.” The Greek text is clear, but there are a few manuscripts that add “and craftsmen.” Good News Translation and the New Jerusalem Bible (New Jerusalem Bible) prefer “craftsmen” to “prisoners” here; other versions follow the Greek text. We recommend that translators follow Good News Translation, with a footnote.
Mighty men: See the comments on verse 4.
The people of the land: This is the usual Hebrew idiom for “the common people.” According to 2 Kgs 24.14, the common people were not taken into exile. Contemporary English Version tries to solve this problem partially with “most of the people,” indicating that some were left behind; but that is saying more than the writer says, and it is suggested that translators not follow Contemporary English Version in this.
Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.
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