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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 36:1:
Kupsabiny: “People took the son of Josiah who was called Joahaz and gave him to rule in Jerusalem replacing his father.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The people living in the land made Josiah’s son Jehoahaz king in place of his father.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “The child of Josia who is Jehoahaz was-the- one-who the people replaced as king in Jerusalem.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then the people of Judah chose Josiah’s son Jehoahaz and appointed him as the king in Jerusalem.” (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 people of the land took Jehoahaz …: For The people of the land, see the comments on 2 Chr 33.25. The shortened form of the name Jehoahaz is “Joahaz” (Good News Translation). Bible readers are often confused by the fact that two different kings had this name. The king of Israel who ruled 814–798 B.C. was also called “Jehoahaz” (2 Kgs 13.1-9). Good News Translation consistently uses the shortened form of the name, “Joahaz,” for the king of Judah and the longer form for the earlier king of Israel to avoid confusing the reader (compare the comments on 2 Chr 21.1). Jehoahaz is also called “Shallum” in 1 Chr 3.15 and Jer 22.11. He was the youngest of Josiah’s sons according to 1 Chr 3.15 (see the comments there). Normally, the oldest son would become the new king following the death of his father. He was probably two years younger than his brother Jehoiakim who is mentioned in verses 4-8. In spite of the fact that he was the youngest brother, he was perhaps considered a more satisfactory candidate because of the policies of his father.
And made him king in his father’s stead …: See the comments on 2 Chr 26.1. This clause may be translated “and crowned Jehoahaz their new king to replace his father….” Bible en français courant has “to make him the successor of his father.”
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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