complete verse (1 Chronicles 23:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 23:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “Hebron had four sons. The big/first one was called Jeriah, the second was Amariah, the third was Jahaziel, and the fourth was Jekameam.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sons of Hebron [were] Jeriah, the leader, Amariah, the second, Jahaziel, the third, and Jekameam, the fourth.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The male children of Hebron were Jeria, the chief-leader/[lit. chief-head] of their family, Amaria the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekamean the fourth.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 23:19

The sons of Hebron …: Hebron was Kohath’s third son (verse 12), as Good News Translation makes explicit in order to help the reader relate this verse back to the previous reference.

Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth: Revised Standard Version follows the form of the Hebrew in indicating that Jeriah (literally “Jeryahu”) was the firstborn, Amariah, the second born, and so forth. As in the next verse also, Good News Translation leaves this information implicit since English style usually lists children in order of birth. Translators will need to decide which form will express this information clearly in the receptor language. But as noted above, the word chief (literally “head”) in this context probably indicates more than “firstborn.” It means “head of the clan.” Braun correctly begins this verse with “the sons of Hebron had Jeriah as chief.” Good News Translation does not make this clear.

In 1 Chr 24.23 the longer form of the name Amariah is used, which is “Amaryahu” (so La Bible Pléiade, Chouraqui), but nearly all versions use the shorter form both here and in chapter 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 .