complete verse (2 Kings 5:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 5:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “Naaman said to him, ‘Let me bring/give sixty-eight (68) kilos of silver.’ Then Naaman told Gehazi to accept to be given two bags of silver. He also gave him two sets of fine clothes, and then he told two of his servants to take those things along while going with Gehazi.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Naaman said, "Take 68 kilograms." Naaman forced Gehazi to take the silver. He put the 68 kilograms of silver and two sets of clothes in two bags. He gave those items to two of his servants. The servants carried those things ahead of Gehazi.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Naaman said, ‘Yes, here are the 70 kilos of silver.’ And Naaman urged/forced him to accept those. Naaman put- the silver -inside the two bags including the two pieces of clothes, and gave them to his two servants who particularly would-bring them for Gehazi.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Naaman replied, ‘Certainly! You can have 150 pounds of silver!’ He urged Gehazi to take it. He also gave him two sets of clothing. He tied up the silver in two bags and gave them to two of his servants to carry back to Elisha.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Japanese benefactives (totte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, totte (取って) or “take” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 5:23

Be pleased to accept two talents: Naaman responds by offering twice the amount that Gehazi had asked for. This was no doubt to express his gratitude to Elisha for the healing Elisha had performed, and it would have permitted him to give a talent each to the two men that Naaman mistakenly thought had arrived to visit the prophet. The Hebrew actually has two imperative forms in succession here, saying “Be pleased, accept two talents.” This is a polite way of asking Gehazi to take more than what he had requested. Revised English Bible renders this “By all means; take two talents.” Moffatt has “Allow me to give you….” Translators should try to determine how a person in their own language would respond in a situation where he or she wanted desperately to show appreciation for a very kind deed.

And he urged him: These words are not in the Septuagint. The Hebrew verb here (parats) is often translated “to break through.” But in this context the Hebrew verb parats is probably to be read as patsar and translated “to urge” or “to force.” Some other renderings for this clause are “He pressed him to take them” (Revised English Bible) and “He insisted on it” (Good News Translation; similarly most French translations).

Tied up two talents of silver in two bags: The Hebrew noun rendered bags comes from a root meaning “to strip bark.” Such bags were apparently made of tree bark originally. The Septuagint translates this noun with a word that refers to a bag usually made of leather. The same Hebrew noun appears in Isa 3.22, where it is rendered “handbags” in Revised Standard Version and seems to refer to an item made of cloth.

Laid them upon two of his servants: The pronoun them in all likelihood refers to both the bags of silver and the two changes of clothing.

Before Gehazi; that is, in front of Gehazi as he started back to the house of Elisha.

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 .