14Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 5:14:
Kupsabiny: “I or my people did not ask for the food the leaders/officers used to eat which were collected from the people when I was ruler/governor of Judah. I led Judah for twelve years from the twentieth year to the thirty second year when Artaxerxes was ruling.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “For a period/[lit. inside] of twelve years that I served as a governor of Juda, from the 20th year until 32nd year of the reign of Artaserkses, I and my blood-relatives never accepted/received food for the governor.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “I was appointed to be the governor of Judea in the twentieth year that Artaxerxes was the king of Persia. For the next twelve years, until he had been ruling for almost 32 years, neither I nor my officials accepted the money that we were allowed/entitled to receive to buy food because of my being the governor.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
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 (Dinė) 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.”
Good News Translation introduces a section break here that draws attention to Nehemiah’s character and deeds: “Nehemiah’s Unselfishness.” Some other versions are similar. Contemporary English Version says “Nehemiah Is Generous.” New Revised Standard Version speaks of “The Generosity of Nehemiah,” and New American Bible refers to “Nehemiah’s Lack of Self-interest.” However, many versions do not have a section heading at this point and it is not necessary to do so because a division is not indicated in the discourse structure of the Hebrew narrative.
Moreover is an adverb that serves as a discourse marker introducing the explanation that will follow.
I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah: This is the first reference to Nehemiah’s actual appointment as governor of Judah. The Hebrew text has literally “[he] appointed me…” (also the Septuagint). King from later in the verse would have to be understood as the subject. The Latin Vulgate has added “king” as the subject. It has been suggested that the Hebrew text originally had I was appointed (as in Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation), which is a difference of one letter in Hebrew. The Hebrew text translated their governor is an unknown form, probably from a scribal mistake, and the correct form could be simply “governor.” This is found in one Hebrew manuscript, the Vulgate, and the Syriac version, and is followed by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. But their governor, which is also in the Septuagint, may be correct and is the preferred text. The possessive pronoun their refers to the people living in the land of Judah. In some languages a similar pronoun can be used, and the meaning will be clear from the rest of the sentence. In other languages it may be omitted, and the meaning will be clear. For governor see the comment at Ezra 5.3, 14.
Most versions translate the Hebrew that refers to the land of Judah without identifying a political entity. Bible en français courant, however, refers to it as “the province of Judah.”
Nehemiah served twelve years as governor, from Artaxerxes’ twentieth year as king to his thirty-second year. This was from 445 to 433 B.C.
Neither I nor my brethren ate the food allowance of the governor: Nehemiah was concerned as governor to lighten the tax burden on the people. He chose to do this “because of the fear of God” (see the next verse; also verse 9 above). One way Nehemiah was able to decrease the taxes was by not taking the food allowance that he and his brethren, that is, close kinsmen (see Neh 4.23), were authorized to receive. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible calls it “the governor’s bread.” The governor, like the Persian satrap, had the right to collect taxes for both the central treasury and for his own treasury.
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 .
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