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 9:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 9:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “Solomon sent his people to go and buy those horses from Egypt and other countries.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “People brought horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the other countries.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The horses of Solomon came from Egiptoand from yet/still other nations.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Solomon’s agents brought horses from the Musri area and other places.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 9:28

Moses had warned that the king of the Israelites was not to have a large number of horses for his army (Deut 17.16).

And horses were imported for Solomon …: The passive verb were imported will have to be transformed into an active one in some languages. The agent is either Solomon or people acting on his behalf. Good News Translation has “Solomon imported horses,” but others may wish to say “Solomon’s agents imported horses.” In fact, a more literal rendering of the Hebrew text is “And they were bringing horses for Solomon” (NASB). In languages where the indefinite third person plural is used to convey the passive idea, this will no doubt be the best model.

Egypt is the reading in the Masoretic Text. A number of interpreters correct the Hebrew word for Egypt to read “Musri” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Others prefer to add a footnote saying that the reference is possibly to Muzur, a region in or near Cilicia (so New International Version, New Living Translation). See the comments on 2 Chr 1.16 for the same problem.

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 .