Burden-bearers renders two Hebrew words, a participle and a noun, which are literally “one bearing a burden-bearer.” The Hebrew participle “one bearing” was perhaps added later in order to clarify the meaning of the noun “burden-bearer.” In this particular context it is clear that the reference is to carrying stones. After the stones were cut from the quarry, they had to be carried in baskets to the place where the Temple was being built. Anchor Bible says “basket carriers.”

Hewers of stone translates a single participle in Hebrew. The reference is to people who dug and cut blocks of stone out of the ground. Some translations say “stonecutters” (New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible) and others use the more technical term “quarrymen” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible).

The hill country translates a Hebrew noun that may also be rendered “the mountains” (New Jerusalem Bible). The reference is to the limestone hills of Palestine.

Based on the assumption that the stones had to be cut before they were carried, Good News Translation reorders this verse so that it speaks first of those who cut the stones before talking about those who carried them.

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