serve

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)

complete verse (2 Chronicles 12:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 12:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Although that is the case, the people of that city will become slaves of Shishak so that they can know the difference between worshipping me and when they have become slaves of other communities.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Nevertheless they will become his servants, only then they will understand the difference between serving me and serving the rulers of other countries."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But I will-have- them -become-subject to him so-that they can learn that (it is) better to serve me than to serve the earthly kings.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “but they will conquer Jerusalem and force the people there to do what Shishak wants them to do. As a result, the people of Jerusalem will learn that it is better to serve me than to serve the kings of other countries.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 12:8

Nevertheless renders a Hebrew conjunction that is often translated “for” or “because,” but in this context it marks a contrast between the mercy indicated in the previous verse and the fact that the people of Judah would still have to suffer some punishment under the Egyptian king.

They shall be servants to him: The Hebrew word rendered servants means “subjects” in this context (see the comments on 1 Chr 18.2), so NET Bible says “they will become his subjects.” Another possible rendering is “they will serve him.”

That they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries: The people of Judah will know from experience what it is like to serve God and what it is like to serve rulers of other countries. Implied in this statement is that they will discover that it is much better to be ruled by a loving God than by non-Israelite nations who oppress them. This implicit meaning is made explicit in New Living Translation, which says “so that they can learn how much better it is to serve me than to serve earthly rulers.” Revised English Bible has “then they will know the difference between serving me and serving the rulers of other countries” (similarly New Revised Standard Version). For the kingdoms of the countries, see the comments on 1 Chr 29.30.

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 .