complete verse (1 Chronicles 9:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was in charge of the guarding of the gate of the Tent of God when David was ruling.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard of the gate of the tent of meeting.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Zacarias the child of Meshelemia was also a guard in the gate/entrance of the Meeting-Together-Place Tent.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance of the Sacred Tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:21

Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper …: Meshelemiah and his family are spoken of in greater detail in chapter 26. It is possible that Meshelemiah refers to the same person as Shallum in verses 17 and 19 and as Shelemiah in 1 Chr 26.14. But because this is not certain, translators should not harmonize these different verses.

The tent of meeting: Normally this expression refers to the Tabernacle used in the wilderness period at the time of Moses (see the comments on 1 Chr 6.32). But as verse 23 shows, the writer uses it here as a synonym for the Temple (so Contemporary English Version, New Century Version).

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 .