son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of.

complete verse (Jeremiah 40:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 40:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then these people and their soldiers came to Gedaliah in Mizpah: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai who came from Netopha, and Jezaniah from Maaka.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore these officials went to Gedalia at Mizpa. These officials were Ishmael the child of Netania, Johanan and Jonatan the children of Karea, Seraya the child of Tanhumet, the sons of Efai who (are) from-Netofa, and Jaazania who (is) from-Maaca. Their men went also with them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So they went to talk to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Those who went included Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai from Netophath, and Jezaniah from Maacah, and the soldiers who were with them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 40:8

Went to Gedaliah: Whether to have the verb at the beginning of the verse, as in Revised Standard Version, or at the end, as in Good News Translation, will depend on what is most natural in each language.

The men named here were Judean officers (see 2 Kgs 25.23); Ishmael was also a member of the royal family (see 2 Kgs 25.25).

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 .