elder (of the community)

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated as “elders” in English is translated in the Danish Bibelen 2020 as folkets ledere or “leaders of the people.”

Martin Ehrensvärd, one of the translators, explains: “The term ‘elder’ turned out to pose a particularly thorny problem. In traditional bibles, you can find elders all of over the place and they never pose a problem for a translator, they are just always elders. But how to find a contemporary term for this semi-official, complex position? This may have been our longest-standing problem. A couple of times we thought we had the solution, and then implemented it throughout the texts, only to find out that it didn’t work. Like when we used city council or village council, depending on the context. In the end we felt that the texts didn’t work with such official terms, and throughout the years in the desert, these terms didn’t make much sense. Other suggestions were ‘the eldest and wisest’, ‘the respected citizens’, ‘the Israelites with a certain position in society’, ‘the elder council’ –- and let me point out that these terms sound better in Danish than in English (‘de fremtrædende borgere,’ ‘de mest fremtrædende israelitter,’ ‘alle israelitter med en vis position,’ ‘de ældste og de klogeste,’ ‘ældsterådet’). In the end we just said ‘leaders of the people.’ After a lot of hand-wringing, it turned out that we actually found a term that worked well. So, we had to give up conveying the fact that they were old, but the most important point is that they were community leaders.” (Source: Ehrensvärd in HIPHIL Novum 8/2023, p. 81ff. )

The German das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) translates likewise as “leader of the people” (Anführer des Volkes).

Translation commentary on Judith 10:6

Revised Standard Version and Contemporary English Version begin a new paragraph here. This is logical as the two women now leave the house.

Then they went out to the city gate of Bethulia: Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version helpfully identify the subject as “the two women.” The “house” (Good News Translation) is not mentioned in the Greek text, but clearly implied in went out. Judith and her maid had been in Judith’s house while making their preparations. Contemporary English Version supplies the information that they “walked” to the gate: “Together the two women left the house and walked to the gate of Bethulia.” Good News Translation assumes the readers will remember Bethulia is a town, and omits the word city with reference to the gates. Other translators may wish to ensure understanding and include it.

Found Uzziah standing there with the elders of the city, Chabris and Charmis: “Standing guard” (Good News Translation) is not necessarily implied in the text, though it may be legitimately read from it. Most versions have the three men simply standing there—presumably not loitering, but seeing to their official duties. The town gates were equivalent to the courthouse—the place where official business was conducted. Rather than have the three just standing about, or standing guard, which was probably being done by the other male citizens, one could say that “they … found Uzziah and … Chabris and Charmis at their post of duty.” New Jerusalem Bible, however, has found the best solution. The men are “waiting” there. In 8.33 Judith had told them her plans, and that they should stand waiting for her at the gates. Perhaps the best rendering here would be “they came to the town gates and found Uzziah and … Charmis standing there waiting.” For elders see 6.16.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.