18“The slaves have foiled us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the ground, and his head is missing!”
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)
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:
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
The slaves have tricked us: Slaves is used here in the same sense as in verse 13 (see the note there). Good News Translation does not represent it at all here, which is probably just as well. Anything catching Bagoas’ intent would probably be a profanity. One could, however, say something like “Those wretched [or, worthless, miserable] slaves.” The verb translated tricked literally means “set aside [an agreement], disregard.” Here Judith has set aside her word (11.17-19) to Holofernes, and Bagoas realizes they have been fooled. In Greek the verb has no object expressed. The lack of it may make Bagoas’ cry more embittered. Of course, us is the object to be implied. Judith will use this verb with God as subject in her song of praise in the next chapter (“foiled” in 16.6).
One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar: For a comment on Hebrew, see 10.12. It should not be translated “Israelite” (Good News Translation). Has brought disgrace on may be rendered “has disgraced” or “has caused … to lose much face.” While the house of King Nebuchadnezzar in 11.23 and 12.13 refers to a literal building, the palace, here it refers to the kingdom, or perhaps the royal line. Good News Translation has “Nebuchadnezzar’s whole kingdom.” “Whole” represents no word in the Greek text, but it is a fitting contrast to Bagoas’ emphasis on One Hebrew woman.
For look: “Look in there” (Good News Translation) is much better since the officers are standing outside Holofernes’ sleeping quarters and Bagoas is urging them to go inside and see for themselves what has happened.
Here is Holofernes lying on the ground: In contrast to 14.15, where Good News Translation omitted reference to Holofernes being dead, here Good News Translation inserts it. But it works in each instance.
And his head is not on him: It is hard to read this and not think it funny. Most translations come out sounding funny here. And that is probably the way it should be. Certainly Bagoas doesn’t see anything funny, but the Jewish audience would think it positively hilarious, and having Bagoas say something almost dumb would make it even funnier.
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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