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 41:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 41:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “All those people whom Ishmael had captured in Mizpah turned around to welcome Johanan son of Kareah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “All of them whom Ishmael had-taken-captive from Mizpa ran toward Johanan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So all those who had been captured in Mizpah escaped, and they started to help Johanan.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 41:14

All the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah: If “all the people” in verse 13 are clearly marked as Ishmael’s prisoners, then this clause may either be entirely omitted or at least reduced to a pronoun “they.” In fact, the whole verse in Good News Translation is rendered “and turned and ran to them.” Other translators, however, say “So all the people Ishmael had led away as prisoners from Mizpah turned around and went to join Johanan.”

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 .