The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and 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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”
Behold: See 1.6. Jeremiah is describing his vision, which Good News Translation makes clear by saying “I saw.”
All the women left in the house of the king of Judah refers to all the women who remained in the royal palace. House of the king of Judah may be rendered “Judah’s royal palace” (Good News Translation).
Were being led out to the princes of the king of Babylon: In some languages it may be necessary to use an active construction, as in “soldiers were leading them out to the king of Babylonia’s officers.” It may also be necessary to say something like “They were being led out and turned over to the officials of the king of Babylonia.” Princes is once again “officials” (see verse 17).
Were saying: Some translators have “were saying about you.” It can also be a new sentence: “This is what they were saying about you.”
It would be ideal if the four lines of poetry could be rendered as a “taunt song.” The tone should perhaps be similar to the mocking jeers of children against an unfortunate playmate. Both Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch use a third person reference to the king, whereas Revised Standard Version maintains the second person (you) form. The choice of form depends upon what is felt to be most acceptable in the translator’s language.
Your trusted friends is more literally “men of your peace,” reflecting the message of Zedekiah’s advisers who kept telling him “All is well!” New Jerusalem Bible renders “those friends of yours,” attempting to reflect the derogatory nature of Jeremiah’s remarks; Good News Translation has “The king’s best friends” and Revised English Bible “Your own friends.”
Deceived is better expressed as “misled” (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible). The problem is that deceived carries a sense of intent, whereas “misled” simply suggests bad advice, which is the case here.
Prevailed against: Perhaps Good News Translation “overruled” comes close to the intention of the passage, which indicates that through advice or pressure the king’s friends pushed him into making the wrong decision. “Got their way” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) is a good way of expressing this in English.
Your feet are sunk in the mire: There may be an intentional parallel drawn between the king and the experience of Jeremiah (verse 6). Mire means “mud,” as in Good News Translation. But note that this doesn’t just mean that the king’s feet were muddy or dirty; rather, he was stuck in deep mud in which it was difficult to move.
In the last clause of Revised Standard Version (they turn away from you), it is possible that they may be mistakenly understood to refer back to your feet. In order to avoid this problem, Good News Translation translates they as “his friends.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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