complete verse (1 Kings 22:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 22:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, Ahab sent for Micaiah to be called to him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So the King of Israel called one official and said, "Bring Micaiah, son of Imlah here immediately!"” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Ahab summoned one of his officials and said-to-(him), ‘[You (plur.)] bring Micaya the child of Imla here quickly.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the king of Israel told one of his officers to summon Micaiah immediately.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 22:9

Once again Good News Translation uses the proper name “Ahab” in place of the king of Israel.

For the verb summoned, see the comments at 1 Kgs 2.36.

The Hebrew noun rendered officer is translated by some versions as “eunuch” (Revised English Bible, Anchor Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Osty-Trinquet), that is, a castrated male. In a few places in the Old Testament, “eunuch” is clearly the correct rendering (2 Kgs 20.18; Isa 39.7; 56.3-4). In many Old Testament passages, however, the purely physical description is secondary; the primary emphasis is on the high social status of the person. For various reasons eunuchs were entrusted with important tasks by rulers. There is some reason to think that the Hebrew noun was sometimes used to refer to a high official who was not actually castrated.

Translations such as “court official” (Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant), “officer” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), and “official” (New International Version) are preferable here to the rendering “eunuch” (see Péter-Contesse).

Since Micaiah is identified in the previous verse as the son of Imlah, Good News Translation omits the words the son of Imlah here for reasons of English style.

In those languages where direct quotations are used sparingly, Good News Translation provides a model translation in which the quotation is turned into indirect speech. Moffatt is similar with “told him to bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly.”

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 .