the organization of work (image)

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complete verse (Nehemiah 3:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 3:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “Hananiah son of Shelemiah together with Hanun who was the son of Zalaph, built another section. Meshullam son of Berekiah built the part of the wall which faces his home.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Next to him were Hanania the child of Shelemia and Hanun the sixth child of Zalaf. This is now the second portion of the stone-wall that they built. Next to them was Meshulam the child of Berekia. He built the portion of the stone-wall that faces his house.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Next to him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired a section. That was the second section that they repaired. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berekiah, made repairs across from where he lived.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 3:30

No reason is given why Hanun should be specifically identified as the sixth son of Zalaph.

Another section is literally “second section” (see the comments at vers 11 above). Good News Translation specifies that this is the “second one” because of the reference to Hananiah in verse 8 and to Hanun in verse 13 (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Meshullam was related by marriage to Tobiah and was later ejected from a room in the Temple by Nehemiah (see Neh 3.4; 6.18; 13.4-9).

Chamber may refer to a room in the Temple (compare Neh 12.44; 13.7; Ezra 8.29; 10.6). The Hebrew word for chamber can also mean a room in which to live (New English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) and therefore can be translated “living quarters” (New International Version, Bible en français courant) or “house” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

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 .