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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Daniel 8:23

New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, and New Revised Standard Version set forth as poetic the section beginning here and going through the end of verse 26, because the Hebrew text breaks into a kind of metrical form. But most other versions retain the prose format, since it is questionable whether the kind of meter used in the Hebrew should be so represented.

At the latter end of their rule: this refers to the four successors to Alexander the Great. Two of these kingdoms disappeared from the political scene fairly quickly. But the other two continued for about a century and a half, each directed by its own dynasty. The Ptolemys ruled in Egypt, and the Seleucids in Syria and Babylonia. The writer’s main interest, however, is in one particular ruler of the Seleucid dynasty—Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

The transgressors: while the Hebrew literally speaks of transgressors, this whole clause is problematic, and the ancient versions have “transgressions” rather than transgressors. Since it is unclear who these transgressors were, many modern English translations adopt the reading of the ancient versions: “transgressions” (New Jerusalem Bible and New Revised Standard Version), “sins” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “crimes” (An American Translation and Anchor Bible).

Reached their full measure: the idea here is something like “when they have gone as far as they can go in committing sin.” Another way of translating this is “when their sin is at its height” (Revised English Bible). The ancient notion seems to have been that God waited for sin to reach a certain level of gravity before intervening with punishment. Compare Gen 15.16, where the iniquity of the Amorites is said to be incomplete. See also Matt 23.32, where Jesus speaks of the Scribes and Pharisees completing the measure of their ancestors.

A king of bold countenance: literally “of stern faces.” This description of the new king who was to come to power seems to focus on his physical appearance. But the appearance of a person is related to his character. The two Hebrew words have been variously translated as “stern-faced” (New International Version), “proud faced” (New Jerusalem Bible), “defiant” (Moffatt), “of grim aspect” (Revised English Bible), “impudent” (New Jerusalem Bible).

One who understands riddles: this gives a very inadequate idea of the meaning of the text. New Jerusalem Bible has “ingenious-minded man,” but this likewise sounds too much like praise. The idea here is one of an evil genius—a thoroughly malicious, spiteful, and devious person. He was seen as a shrewd expert in cunning and deception. New Revised Standard Version translates “skilled in intrigue.” Good News Translation apparently translates this by the two nouns “vicious and deceitful.”

Arise: that is, “rise to power” or “take control” or “begin to govern.” See 7.17.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .