son vs. grandson

“Son of x, son of y” must be rendered as “son of x or grandson of y” in Tibetan or else it will sound like two different people. (Source: David Clark in Clark / Desnitsky 2009 , p. 21).

Note: The same translation solution is chosen in many contemporary English Bibles that emphasize easy readability, such as the Contemporary English Version, Common English Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, or New Living Translation.

See also father / grandfather.

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 patronymic 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 patronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

complete verse (Nehemiah 11:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 11:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “together with 822 other priests, who worked in the house of God. Also, there was Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “their 822 men companions who work-hard in the temple were;
    Adaya the child of Jeroham (Jeroham the child of Pelalia; Pelalia the child of Amzi; Amzi the child of Zacarias; Zacarias the child of Pashur; and Pashur the child of Malkia);” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Altogether, 822 members of that clan worked in the temple.
    Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 11:12

And their brethren who did the work of the house …: Their brethren refers to the clan of Jedaiah. The total number of this clan was 822. They are described as doing the work of the house. This refers to the religious duties of the priests in the Temple. Jerusalem Bible says they “were responsible for the Temple liturgy” and New Jerusalem Bible says they “performed the Temple liturgy.” In this context it is understood that the house refers to the house of God (see Neh 10.39), as Good News Translation makes explicit with a helpful model.

And Adaiah the son of …: The listing then continues into the next verse with the priest Adaiah.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .