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 36:3:
Kupsabiny: “Then, Necoh chased Joahaz away from the rulership of Judah. That king of Egypt made the land of Judah pay him a tax of three thousand and four hundred (3,400) kilos of silver and thirty-four (34) kilos of gold.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The king of Egypt took him and made Judah pay 3,400 kilograms of silver and 34 kilograms of gold as tribute.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Later on he was-removed from his throne by the king of Egiptowho is Neco, and Neco had- Juda -paid taxes which-is about 3,500 kilos of silver and 35 kilos of gold.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “King Neco of Egypt captured him and prevented him from ruling any longer. He also forced the people of Judah to pay him a tax of almost four tons of silver and about 75 pounds of gold.” (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.”
Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem: The king of Egypt refers to King Neco (see the next verse and the comments on 2 Chr 35.20). It will be advisable in many languages to use his name here rather than waiting until the following verse (so Good News Translation). The Hebrew verb rendered deposed is a causative form that means literally “caused to turn.” But the sense in this context is “dethroned” (New International Version), “removed [him] from the throne” (Revised English Bible), or “removed [him] from office” (God’s Word).
And laid upon the land a tribute may be expressed in a variety of other ways, including “and imposed on Judah a levy” (New International Version) and “and forced Judah to pay” (Contemporary English Version). Moffatt says “fined the country” (similarly An American Translation).
A hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold: For talent see the comments on 1 Chr 19.6. The modern equivalents here are “7,500 pounds of silver and 75 pounds of gold” (Good News Translation). Using the metric system, Bible en français courant has “three thousand kilos of silver and thirty kilos of gold.” A more precise translation in the metric system would be “3,400 kilogrammes of silver and 34 kilogrammes of gold” (GNT British edition).
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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