4When he had completed his plan, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, called Holofernes, the chief general of his army, second only to himself, and said to him,
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)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 Greek text of this verse begins literally with “And it came to pass that….” It is using a common Hebrew idiom that often signals a shift of scene or emphasis. Here the narrative is preparing to move into a new significant scene. An introductory “then” might help, but the least that can be done is to begin this sentence as a new paragraph, as in Good News Translation. The paragraph structure of Revised Standard Version here obscures the importance of what follows.
When he had finished setting forth his plan: This clause is literally, “When he completed his plan.” This means “When he finished telling his plan” or “When he had finished telling them what he planned to do.” Good News Translation loses little by its shift of focus: “At the close of the meeting….” New Jerusalem Bible has “When the council was over….”
Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes: Good News Translation misses two important points in this clause. First, it omits as redundant information Nebuchadnezzar‘s title as king of the Assyrians. Of course the reader knows it, but it is an emphatic assertion of strength: the king of the Assyrians, victor over the mighty Arphaxad, now calls Holofernes. It is an effective introduction to Holofernes, who as a character is second in importance in this book only to Judith herself. He shares the strength of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians. The title is important from the point of view of the narrator. Translators should keep this phrase (so also Contemporary English Version). A second point missed by Good News Translation is the expression called Holofernes. The Greek assumes (though one could argue this) that Holofernes has not been present for the council discussed in verses 1-3. He is summoned here. The natural inference from Good News Translation is that Holofernes has been present all along, but this is not the impression left by the Greek. He is introduced at a dramatic point. To make this point clear one may say “Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, called for Holofernes to come in.”
Chief general of his army, second only to himself: Second only to himself may also be expressed as “Only the king was higher in status than Holofernes” or “Only the king had more authority than Holofernes.”
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• When he had finished telling them what he planned to do, King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria called for Holofernes to come in. Holofernes was the chief general of his soldiers, and only the king had more authority than he did.
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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