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 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 (Nehemiah 11:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 11:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “together with 242 relatives of his who were heads of their families. There was also Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, who was son of Immer,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the companions of Adaya 242 men who were leaders/[lit. heads] of the families;
    Amashsai the child of Azarel (Azarel the child of Azai; Azai the child of Meshilemot; and Meshilemot the child of Imer);” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Altogether, there were 242 members of that clan who were leaders of the clan who settled in Jerusalem.
    Another priest who settled in Jerusalem was Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 11:13

And his brethren, heads of fathers’ houses …: His brethren refers to the clan of Adaiah. New International Version calls them “his associates.” Heads of fathers’ houses were “heads of families” as Good News Translation renders it (also New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible; see Ezra 1.5). These numbered 242.

And Amashai, the son of …: The list continues with the priest Amashsai.

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 .