complete verse (1 Kings 14:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 14:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Ahijah went ahead to say to that woman, ‘So, you now get up and go back. But as soon as you arrive in the city, your child dies.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So you are to get up and go home. As soon as you set foot inside the city the boy will die. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Ahia said to the wife of Jeroboam, ‘You go- to your -home now. When you arrive in your (plur.) city, your child will-die.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So go back home. And as soon as you enter the city, your son will die.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 14:12

The prophet Ahijah is now addressing the wife of Jeroboam and no longer quoting the message directly from Yahweh to Jeroboam. For this reason it is important to begin a new paragraph here and probably also to introduce it by saying something like “Ahijah then spoke to the wife of Jeroboam” (similarly Good News Translation). Another way of handling this is provided by an African translation, which says “The prophet Ahijah added, ‘You, wife of Jeroboam….’ ”

This verse begins with the common Hebrew conjunction followed by the second person singular pronoun (“And you” in Chouraqui). Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation shows that the Hebrew has the pronoun “you” at the beginning of this verse, which gives a slight emphasis not reflected in most English translations. Anchor Bible translates “As for you…” (also Contemporary English Version). The focus in Hebrew shifts from Jeroboam and his descendants to his wife. Revised Standard Version renders the common conjunction as therefore, but it is better to begin this verse with the shift in focus.

Arise: See verse 2.

When your feet enter the city: A literal rendering of these words may sound strange in many languages. Obviously what it intended is “When you enter the city gate” (International Children’s Bible), “and right after you get there” (Contemporary English Version), or “as soon as you set foot in the city.”

The child is the son of Jeroboam mentioned in verse 1. For this reason Good News Translation says “your son” since Jeroboam’s wife is being addressed. Regarding the Hebrew noun yeled, which is translated child, see the comments on verse 3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .