Joram or “Jehoram” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation): See 2 Chr 21. The Hebrew name “Jehoram” means “the LORD is exalted,” but it is often shortened to Joram with the same meaning. Both the longer and the shorter forms are used for the son of Jehoshaphat who ruled in Judah and for the son of Ahab who ruled over Israel at approximately the same time. In order to reduce the confusion between these two kings, several English versions have adopted the convention of using the longer form “Jehoram” for the king of Judah and then calling the king of Israel by the shorter name “Joram” (so Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version). Translators are advised to adopt a similar convention in their own languages in order to clearly distinguish the two rulers for Bible readers. Just the opposite from these versions, Revised English Bible uses “Joram” for the king of Judah and “Jehoram” for the king of Israel. The advantage of this is that it conforms to what is done in the case of Joash/Jehoash and Joahaz/Jehoahaz; that is, the shorter form is used for the kings of Judah in all three cases.

Ahaziah: See 2 Chr 22.

Joash: See 2 Chr 24.

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 .