complete verse (2 Chronicles 28:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 28:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, those soldiers left those prisoners together with the things they had plundered in front of those leaders and all the people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So, in the presence of the people and their leaders, the soldiers released the prisoners and the plunder they had brought.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So the soldiers entrusted to the leaders and to the entire community the captives and the things/possessions that they had-taken-by-force at war.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So, while their leaders and others were watching, the soldiers released the prisoners, and also gave back to them the valuable things that they had captured.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 28:14

So the armed men left the captives and the spoil …: So translates the common Hebrew conjunction. In this context the conjunction introduces the result of what the prophet and the four Israelite leaders said. The armed men may be rendered “the army” (Good News Translation, Bible de Jérusalem) or “the soldiers” (New International Version, New Century Version). For the Hebrew noun rendered spoil, see the comments on 2 Chr 14.14, where it is translated “plunder.” See also the comments on 1 Chr 20.2 and 2 Chr 15.11, where a different Hebrew word occurs.

Before the princes and all the assembly: As often in the historical books of the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated princes does not refer to the sons of a king but to the “leaders” (Good News Translation) or “officials” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible). The assembly refers here to the people in general.

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 .