complete verse (1 Chronicles 23:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 23:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “Shelomith was the big one in the house of Izhar.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Of the sons of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “One of the male children of Izhar was Shelomit the chief-leader/[lit. chief-head] of their family.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 23:18

The sons of Izhar …: After listing the descendants of Levi’s son Gershon in verses 7-11, the writer turned to the descendants of Levi’s son Kohath in verse 12, where Izhar is listed as Kohath’s second son, which Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version make explicit here. Good News Translation‘s model here may be helpful in other languages in order to provide some coherence for the passage and to relate this verse to the earlier one.

Shelomith the chief: Shelomith is called “Shelomoth” in 1 Chr 24.22 of the Masoretic Text. The difference in spelling is slight, and translators may choose to use the same spelling in both verses. Good News Translation correctly translates chief as “head of the clan” (see the comments on verse 17).

Only one son of Izhar is listed, so God’s Word renders this verse as “Izhar’s only son was Shelomith,” but this is probably not the intended meaning (see the similar comments on God’s Word‘s rendering of verse 16).

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 .