complete verse (Nehemiah 11:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 11:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “But/And the gatekeepers who went and settled in Jerusalem were: Akkub, Talmon plus 172 relatives of theirs.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “From the guards of the entrance/gate of the temple:
    Akub and Talmon, and their companions who were guards at the entrance/gate of the temple were 172 men.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The men who guarded the temple gates were Akkub and Talmon and 172 of their relatives who settled in Jerusalem.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 11:19

Good News Translation has the subheading, “Temple guards,” at the beginning of this verse. The gatekeepers include Akkub and Talmon, whose families are also named in 1 Chr 9.17 and Ezra 2.42 where they are included in the list of Levites. They were in charge of the gates of the Temple, not the gates of the city. They kept watch at the gates, that is, they were “the ones watching at the gates.” They served as guards at the gates of the Temple and had responsibility for its security (see Ezra 2.42).

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .