In the English Good News Bible (2nd edition of 1992), this occurrence of the Greek hoi Ioudaioi, traditionally “the Jews” in English, is translated with a term that refers to the Jewish people or is not translated at all if it implicitly refers to the Jewish people (for example “Passover” instead of “Passover of the Jews”). For an explanation of the differentiated translation in English as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see the Jews.
Pilate
The name that is transliterated as “Pilate” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language (as well as in French Sign Language and American Sign Language) with the sign signifying the washing of hands (referring to Matthew 27:24). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)
“Pilate” in Spanish Sign Language (source )
King of the Jews
The Greek that is translated as “King of the Jews” in most English translations is translated in Nyongar as Djelyib moortakang Judea-kang or “King of the people of Judea.” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
chief priest
The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “chief priest” in English is translated in Muyuw as tanuwgwes lun or “ruler-of peace offering.” (Source: David Lithgow in The Bible Translator 1971, p. 118ff. )
complete verse (John 19:21)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 19:21:
- Uma: “So, the leaders of the priests said to Pilatus: ‘Don’t write: King of the Yahudi people! It is better to write: ‘This person said that he was the king of the Yahudi people.’ ‘” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Then the leaders of the priests went to Pilatus and they said to him, ‘What you have written there is not right. Do not write, ‘The King of the Yahudi’ but write, ‘This person said that he is the King of the Yahudi.’ ‘” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then the chief priests said to Pilate, ‘It would have been better if you hadn’t written ‘King of the Jews’. What you should write is, ‘This person said that he was the King of the Jews.’ ‘” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “That being so, the leaders of the priests of the Jews went to Pilato and said, ‘What you (sing.) should have written, it is not ‘King of the Jews’ but rather ‘This-one said he was King of the Jews.’ ‘” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Therefore those chiefs of the priests said to Pilato, ‘Don’t write like that which is ‘King of the Judio,’ but on the contrary write that ‘He said he is the King of the Judio.”” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Don’t write, ‘The ruler of the Jew.’ Rather write, ‘He says that he is the ruler of the Jews.”” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
king
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
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- Piro: “a great one”
- Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
- Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
- Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
- Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
- 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 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.”
(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff.)