complete verse (1 Chronicles 5:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 5:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “The people who were leaders in the clan of Gad were Joel who was the biggest among them so that Shapham followed. The third was Janai and the fourth was Shaphat in Bashan.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joel was the first leader in Bashan, his next leader was Shapham. And Janai and Shaphat became leaders.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These were the descendants of Gad: Joel, who was the leader/[lit. head] in Bashan, next to him was Shafam, then Janai and Shafat.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 5:12

Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan: The chief is literally “the head,” as in verse 7. In literal translations such as Revised Standard Version, it is not clear what roles these four individuals had and what their relationship was to one another. Were they members of the same clan or of different clans? If they are from the same clan, was Shapham subordinate (second) to Joel? And what relationship do Janai and Shaphat have to the first two men named in this verse?

Good News Translation renders Joel the chief, Shapham the second as “Joel was the founder of the leading clan, and Shapham of the second most important clan.” New Jerusalem Bible says simply “Joel was the first, Shapham the second,” which fits well with the rest of the verse. But since verse 13 refers to various clans, the interpretation expressed in Good News Translation is most likely the intended meaning, that is, that Joel and Shapham were heads of different clans and not the two most important leaders in the same clan. It is also possible to understand this verse to mean that Joel was the leader of the tribe of Gad, Shapham was second in command, followed by Janai and Shaphat. Einheitsübersetzung expresses this sense by saying “Their leader was Joel; Shapham was the second, in addition came Janai and Shaphat. They lived in Bashan.”

The vowels of the Hebrew name Shaphat may be changed to read shophet, which means “judge” in Hebrew. This is the reading of the Targum, an ancient Aramaic translation, and is followed by New American Bible, which renders the last half of this verse as “and Janai was judge in Bashan.” The Septuagint likewise translated the Hebrew not as a name but as “scribe.” Following the Septuagint, Knoppers has “And Janai was the officer in Bashan.” Even though these ancient versions may reflect an original Hebrew text, the Masoretic Text clearly has a person’s name. Translators should follow the Masoretic Text here.

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 .