complete verse (2 Kings 24:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 24:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “After this, Jehoiakim died and his son who was called Jehoiakin ruled replacing his father.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Jehoiakim died, as had his ancestors. After him, Jehoiachin, his son, became king.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When Jehoyakim died, Jehoyakin his child/(son) was the one-who-succeeded him as king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Jehoiakim died, his son Jehoiachin became the king.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 24:6

So: The common Hebrew conjunction here does not necessarily imply a logical relationship in this context as Revised Standard Version seems to indicate. In certain versions (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) it is omitted altogether. If an overt rendering is desired, it will be better to have a temporal connector like “Then” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: See the comments at 1 Kgs 1.21 and 2.10. According to some interpretations and translations of 2 Chr 36.6 (for example, Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible), Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim as a prisoner to Babylon, just as he later took Jehoiachin and Zedekiah as prisoners to Babylon. But the implication of this verse in 2 Kings is that Jehoiakim died in Jerusalem, although this should not be made explicit in translation.

Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead: See the comments at 1 Kgs 14.31. Regarding the various names in Hebrew for Jehoiachin, see the discussion in Appendix B, “Who’s Who among the Kings.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .