complete verse (2 Kings 18:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 18:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do you really think that speaking/words alone give you wisdom and power in battle? Who do you rely on now so that you are rebelling against me?” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “You say that you have the power of soldiers and a war plan, but you are speaking useless words. In whom have you been putting your confidence? And why have you decided to rebell against me?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Do you (sing.) think you (sing.) will-win the battle by word only and not in the ability and strength of your (sing.) soldiers? To-whom are you (sing.) trusting that you (sing.) rebelled against me?” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “You say that you have weapons to fight us, and some country promises to help you, and that will enable you to defeat us, but that is only talk. Who do you think will help you to rebel against my soldiers from Assyria?” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (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 second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 18:20

It may be easier to keep the direct quotation here and in the next verse in contrast with verse 19 (so Good News Translation).

Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? is literally “You say only a word of lips a plan and strength for war.” This rhetorical question is frequently translated by a more direct affirmation in modern versions. New International Version, for example, says “You say you have strategy and military strength—but you speak only empty words.” Another possibility is “You say you have battle plans and power for war, but your words mean nothing” (New Century Version). It is not clear whether mere words refer to diplomatic relations with Egypt or to reliance on the mere words of a prophet.

On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?: Once again the theme of reliance or confidence is stressed. But the question in this case is not rhetorical. The word order in Hebrew, which is literally “Now on whom do you rely…,” gives more emphasis to the adverb now than is reflected in Revised Standard Version. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh attempts to express this emphasis by use of the word “look” as follows: “Look, on whom are you relying, that you have rebelled against me?” Compare also New Living Translation: “Which of your allies will give you any military backing against Assyria?”

The structure of this verse may be altered so that the fact of rebellion is mentioned first rather than at the end of the verse. A possible model is:

• You have the nerve to rebel against me, the king of Assyria. But you cannot defeat us with mere words. It will take the skill and power of a strong army. Who is it that you are expecting to come to your aid?

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .