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)
The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:
While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Solomon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wise” referring to 1 Kings 3:12. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Rehoboam” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” + “divide” + “south.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Benjamin” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wolf,” referring to Genesis 49:27. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 11:3:
Kupsabiny: “‘Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon who is the ruler of Judah and all the Israelites of the clan of Judah together with those of Benjamin” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Speak like this to Rehoboam king of Judah, son of Solomon, and to all the Israelites who are in Judah and Benjamin, ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “‘Say to King Rehoboam of Juda, the child of Solomon, and to all the Israelinhon in Juda and Benjamin” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “‘Go and tell this to Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the king of Judah, and to all the Israeli people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:” (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.”
The quotation in verses 3-4 has three levels: (1) God’s words to Shemaiah, (2) the words that Shemaiah is to say to introduce God’s words (“Thus says the LORD”), and (3) God’s words to Rehoboam and his people. Good News Translation reduces the number of embedded quotations by changing part of the quotation to indirect speech. This may be a good model for other languages where embedded quotations present problems. Contemporary English Version provides another helpful model for such languages by rendering verses 2-4 as follows:
• 2 Meanwhile, the LORD had told Shemaiah the prophet 3 to tell Rehoboam and everyone from Judah and Benjamin, 4 “The LORD warns you not to go to war against the people from the northern tribes—they are your relatives. Go home! The LORD is the one who made these things happen.”
Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah: Solomon had died already (2 Chr 9.31), but a literal translation here may incorrectly suggest that Solomon was still king. New Revised Standard Version expresses the meaning more clearly with “King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon.” Good News Translation leaves out the words the son of Solomon, presumably because this information is well known to Bible readers. But since it has not been specifically mentioned in 2 Chronicles yet, it should probably not be excluded here. It does occur again in verse 17 of this chapter.
All Israel in Judah and Benjamin: Unlike in verse 1, where Israel refers to the northern kingdom, the reference here is to the people of the southern kingdom. Good News Translation expresses this whole phrase well with “all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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