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 (Numbers 10:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 10:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “Last of all those was the clan of Dan with their flag. They were the ones at the end so as to keep guard. And the one in charge of that community was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Last of all the forces of the camp of Dan moved on, holding their banner. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddae was their leader.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The last group who traveled bringing their banner was the group under-the-leadership of the tribe of Dan. They are the guards at the back of all the groups. Their leader/[lit. head] was Ahiezer the child of Amishadai.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The ones who went last were the group from the tribe of Dan, carrying their flag. Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was their leader.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 10:25 - 10:27

Then the standard of the camp of the men of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies …: The instructions concerning the camp of Dan in 2.25-31 (see the comments there) are carried out in verses 25-27. For the standard of the camp of the men … set out by their companies, see verse 14. The camp … of Dan included the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali, which camped on the north side of the Tabernacle (2.25). Acting as the rear guard may give the wrong suggestion that these tribes were not the real rearguard but only acted as such. Renderings such as “serving as the rear guard” (Good News Translation) and “forming the rearguard” avoid this problem. In some languages “forming the last division/camp” may be easier to understand. Since the verb set out refers to repetitive action, Good News Translation says “would start out.” According to 2.31, they were to set out “last.” Although this idea is not repeated here, Good News Translation makes it explicit at the beginning of this paragraph with the word “Finally.” In many languages such a word will make the translation more natural as well as clear.

And over their host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai: See 1.12 and 2.25. For host see verse 14.

And over the host of the tribe of the men of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran: See 1.13 and 2.27.

And over the host of the tribe of the men of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan: See 1.15 and 2.29.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .