Pharaoh

The term that is used for monarchs in ancient Egypt and is transliterated as “Pharaoh” in English is translated in Finnish Sign Language with the sign signifying the “fake metal beard (postiche)” that was used by Pharaohs during official functions. (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Pharaoh” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Pharaoh .

complete verse (Ezekiel 29:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezekiel 29:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “‘Ezekiel, turn towards Pharao, the king of Egypt, and predict to him and all the people of Egypt bad words/news.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Man, you face Egipto, and preach against Faraon the king of Egipto, and to her entire people.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘You human, turn toward Egypt and proclaim the terrible things that will happen to the king of Egypt and all his people.” (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 Ezekiel 29:2

Once again God addresses Ezekiel as Son of man (International Children’s Bible “Human being”).

Set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt: For set your face against, see the comments on 13.17. This phrase may be rendered “look toward” (New Century Version), “turn toward” (New Living Translation [1996]), or “face in the direction of.” In this context it probably implies an aggressive stance or stare. Pharaoh is used here as a proper name, although it is in fact a title for the king of Egypt (see the comments on 17.17). Some translations omit it because it means the same as king of Egypt (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version). This is acceptable if the term is not well known and understood. Otherwise, translators may say “Pharaoh, who is king of Egypt.”

And prophesy against him and against all Egypt means Ezekiel must give God’s message of warning to the Egyptian king and all his people (see 4.7). Some translations put together the ideas of set your face against and prophesy against (so Good News Translation with “denounce” and Contemporary English Version with “condemn”). However, if it is not awkward, translators should retain the two expressions; for example, a model of the whole verse that does this is:

• “Mortal man, look [or, turn] toward the king of Egypt and announce what I am saying against him and all his people.

As in the case of Tyre in chapter 28, this prophecy is addressed to the king and people of Egypt, but its message is for the people of Judah who were in exile with Ezekiel (see the introductory comments on 25.1–32.32). However, translators must retain the form, so that the message is addressed to the king and people of Egypt.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .