In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)
complete verse (Ezra 6:10)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 6:10:
- Kupsabiny: “Do it like that so that those priests will be giving sacrifices to God who is in heaven that pleases (him) and (they can) pray for the life of the king and his sons.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “You do like that, so that they may sacrifice offerings that please the God of heaven, and [they] may pray for the well-being of me and my sons.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “so-that they can offer offerings which can-give-joy to God of heaven, and they can-pray for me and for my children.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “If you do that, the Jewish priests will be able to offer sacrifices that please the God who is in heaven, and they will pray that God will bless me and my sons.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
king
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 Ezra 6:10
Darius had a special interest in helping religions throughout his empire and he contributed liberally to their restoration, for example, among the Greeks and Egyptians. He wanted to make sure that he was in the favor of every god in his empire.
They may offer pleasing sacrifices: The basic meaning of the verb offer here is “to come near, approach,” but with an object like a gift or sacrifices, it means “to present.” In the context of religious activity, it refers to making sacrifices or performing sacrifices. Many languages express this concept by using two or more verbs together, for example, “to come and give.” There may even be special religious expressions for offering sacrifices. Here it is specified that the sacrifices were to be “with pleasing odors” (Bible en français courant, Segond, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Osty-Trinquet) or “of sweet aroma” (New King James Version ). Other translations refer to sacrifices that would be “appeasing” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “soothing” (Revised English Bible) to God.
Pray for the life of the king and his sons: Pray is to address a request to a deity. This is not begging or pleading, but asking something of God in a reverent manner. The prayer that the king requests is not literally for his life and that of his children, but that his life and his children’s lives will be blessed and that his reign will be long and prosperous. Like Revised Standard Version, many versions translate the Aramaic expression almost literally (so Bible en français courant, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). New International Version says “pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.” Good News Translation makes explicit the “blessing” that is implicit in praying to God for someone, without specifying what the blessing will be. Translators may use an expression similar to New International Version, or they may follow the model of Good News Translation, which has changed the king’s request for blessing to the first person since he is referring to himself and his own sons. This adjustment by Good News Translation to the style of royal language may be needed in other languages.
New Revised Standard Version translates the Aramaic sons as “children.” In many languages it is natural to refer to one’s children instead of specifying male offspring. Contemporary English Version speaks even more generally of the king’s “family.” However, in the context of the king’s reign, if it is not unnatural in the receptor language, “sons” should be retained in the translation because it is through sons that the king’s dynasty will be continued.
Revised Standard Version reflects the original text by treating verses 9-10 as a single long sentence. Good News Translation simplifies the reading of these verses by breaking them into two sentences, with a partial break in the middle of verse 9 that is signaled by a colon. Translators should restructure the text of these verses in a literary style that is appropriate for the receptor language.
Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
SIL Translator’s Notes on Ezra 6:10
6:10a Then they will be able to offer sacrifices of a sweet aroma to the God of heaven
This is so they can give/offer sacrifices that the God of heaven likes
-or-
I want them to be able to give gifts that the God of heaven will accept
6:10b and to pray for the lives of the king and his sons.
and then pray that God will bless the king and his sons.
-or-
and to pray for me and my sons that our lives may go well and be long.
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