The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “empty-handed” or similar in English is translated in Elhomwe idiomatically with “with hands only.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
See also send away empty-handed.
Nebuchadnezzar
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)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Nebuchadnezzar .
messenger
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “messenger” in English is translated in Noongar as moort yana-waangki or “person walk-talk” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
king
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Ge’ez, 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 Judith 1:11
But: Translators need a connector here showing the strong feeling of the people against the king’s message.
All who lived in the whole region simply means “all of these people” (Contemporary English Version).
Disregarded the orders of Nebuchadnezzar means the people “ignored, paid no attention to King Nebuchadnezzar’s message [or, invitation].”
Refused to join him in the war means they “refused to help him fight against his enemies.”
They were not afraid of him: Afraid may be rendered figuratively in a number of languages; for example, “He did not make their hearts [or, livers] shiver [or, tremble].”
But looked upon him as only one man: But may also be expressed as “Their reason was…” or may be expanded to “They ignored King Nebuchadnezzar because….” [They] looked upon him is literally “he was against/before them as.” This is usually taken to mean “they considered him,” since it corresponds to a Hebrew idiom. Only one man indicates that these peoples considered him isolated, without allies. New English Bible reads “he seemed to them to stand alone and unsupported.” Good News Translation‘s translation “They thought he had no chance of winning the war” seems to interpret the clause in this way. Only one man is sometimes understood to mean “only a man,” so the whole clause is translated “they thought he was only a man.” This has the merit of a neat contrast with Holofernes’ demands that Nebuchadnezzar be worshiped as a god (3.8). There is a textual variant in one (important) manuscript which makes this point more clearly. Most translators and commentators prefer the former understanding. Carey Moore, who translates “an ordinary man,” is an exception (from his 1985 commentary in The Anchor Bible series, to be cited as Moore hereon). The phrase “as one man” is used at 6.3, but there its meaning is clear and can be translated literally. The reason they were not afraid of him was that they thought he couldn’t win. Good News Translation shows this logical relation by reordering the clauses as: “they thought that he had no chance of winning the war, so they were not afraid of him.”
They sent back his messengers empty-handed: Almost all translations use the expression empty-handed, although the text simply says “empty.” Empty-handed would be appropriate if the messengers were expected to return with an object, something that could be literally held in the hands. What is said is simply that they have failed to accomplish their goal. Following this sense, New Jerusalem Bible uses “with nothing achieved,” meaning that no one came with them.
Shamefaced: Good News Translation has “disgraced,” and Contemporary English Version “embarrassed.” It is also possible to use an idiomatic expression, such as “with great loss of face.”
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.
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