Solomon

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is transliterated as “Solomon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wise” referring to 1 Kings 3:12. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Solomon” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Solomon (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Solomon .

complete verse (2 Chronicles 9:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 9:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “(And again, when the people of Hiram together with the people of Solomon brought gold from Ophir, they also came with many trees/much wood that was sold for much money and stones that cost much money.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The men of Hiram and King Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought sandalwood and precious stones.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The people of King Solomon and the people of Hiram also brought gold, almug wood, and precious/[lit. expensive] stones from Ofir.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything that she wanted. He gave her more than she had given to him. Then she and those who came with her returned to her own land.
    In the ships that belonged to King Hiram, Hiram’s workers and Solomon’s workers brought gold from Ophir. They also brought a large amount of juniper wood and gems. King Solomon told his workers to use that wood to make railings in the temple and in his palace and also to make harps and lyres for the musicians. That wood was the the finest wood that had ever been seen in Israel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 9:10

Verses 10-11 are parenthetical and pick up the story from 2 Chr 8.17-18 regarding the sailors who brought gold to Solomon from the country of Ophir. Good News Translation places them in a separate paragraph within parentheses, which is helpful.

Moreover renders the common Hebrew conjunction and an adverb, which is literally “also” (Good News Translation). This adverb indicates that it was not only the queen of Sheba who brought valuable items to Solomon but also the sailors of Hiram and Solomon. Revised English Bible begins this verse with “Besides all this.” Another possible model is “In addition to all this.”

The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir: See the comments on 2 Chr 8.18. Servants refers to sea-faring men in this context, so it may be rendered “sailors” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). New International Version and New Century Version say simply “men.”

For algum wood, see the comments on 2 Chr 2.8; for precious stones, see 2Chr 9.1.

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 .