gecko

Translations generally agree that ’anaqah indicates the gecko. There are many different species of gecko in the land of Israel, ranging from the fairly large Rock Gecko Ptyodactylus hasselquistii to the small Turkish Gecko or Mediterranean Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus, which is only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. ’Anaqah is probably a general word for all kinds of gecko. The word is related to a verb meaning “to cry out”, and it is this that gives the clue to the identification of the name.

Geckos are the only lizards that call. The name “gecko” is borrowed from the Malay word getjok, which mimics the call of one type of gecko. In many languages the names for the different kinds of gecko also mimic their two syllable calls. For instance, in Thai the giant gecko is called tuk-gae (ตุ๊กแก) and the house gecko ching-chok (จิ้งจก).

Besides their distinctive calls, all geckos are characterized by the knobs on the end of their toes. These pads are covered in microscopic hairs that catch on any slight roughness of the surface and enable the geckos to walk upside down on ceilings and overhangs.

Geckos feed on ants, moths, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, and other insects. The males often fight, and one may end up with the detached tail of the other in its mouth. This too may be eaten. Some of the larger geckos also eat small lizards and small snakes.

Geckos are listed as unclean. In the context of Proverbs 30:28 the gecko is a symbol of an insignificant creature that associates freely with royalty.

Geckos are found throughout Africa, the Middle East, southeastern Europe, Asia, and the tropical parts of Australia. In these areas it will not be hard to find a local word. In areas where they are not found, a word borrowed from Hebrew or the dominant language of the area can usually be combined with the word for lizard; for example, “anaka lizard” or “gecko lizard”.

While King James Version has “spider” for semamith at Proverbs 30:28, other translations and commentators are unanimous in interpreting this word as “lizard”. It probably is a reference to the house gecko, which is the most common lizard found inside houses. Most modern commentators take the verb to be a passive in this verse, that is, “the lizard, which can be held [or, caught] in the hand.”

Rock gecko, Wikimedia Commons

Source: All Creatures Great and Small: Living things in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 30:28

“The lizard you can take in your hands”: As the description shows, “the lizard” is a house lizard or gecko, which lives in houses and other buildings.

“Take in your hands” may mean that you can easily “catch” (New Jerusalem Bible) this creature with the hands; or it may mean that the creature is so small that you can easily “hold” (Good News Translation) it in your hands. In either case this shows that it is a small and weak creature like the others in this list. Where small lizards are not commonly found in houses or where they are thought to be dangerous, translators may need to think whether there is some other creature known to their readers that would fit this context. In some places, for example, a spider or a mouse may be known as a common small household creature.

“Yet it is in kings’ palaces”: This shows that the creature has a skill or ability to be able to go and stay in the halls of power.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 30:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 30:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “Lizards can be caught
    but they sneak into the bedroom of a king.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Even though geckos can be caught with the hand,
    they can be found even in the king’s palace.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the lizards, even if you (sing.) can catch them with your (sing.) hand, they can-be-seen in the palaces.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The house-lizards, they are easy to catch, but they are in palaces (loan palasyo).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

king

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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:

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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 (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.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 30:28

30:28

The parts in bold print contrast the ease of catching a lizard with its ability to live in the luxurious palace of a powerful king.

and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands,

yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

30:28a

and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands: The word lizard refers to a gecko or house lizard. The gecko is a small lizard that can run easily across walls or ceilings and eats small insects like mosquitoes. A person can easily grasp, hold, or catch it with the hand. Some other ways to translate this line are:

While a lizard is easy enough to catch in your hand (The Voice)
-or-
Lizards—they are easy to catch (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the lizard can be grasped in the hand (New Revised Standard Version)

30:28b

yet it is found in the palaces of kings: In many languages the word palaces is associated with a king or other ruler, so it may not be necessary to specify the word kings. Some other ways to translate this line are:

⌊it is shrewd enough to⌋ enter the palaces of kings (The Voice)
-or-
but they are found even in kings’ palaces (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
but you can find them in palaces (Good News Translation)

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