Two doors of cypress wood: Regarding these two doors, see the comments on verse 33. For cypress wood, see the comments on 1 Kgs 5.8.

The two leaves of the one door were folding: The translation of the Hebrew noun rendered leaves is uncertain. The Hebrew word comes from a root word meaning “rib.” Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other translations take the word to mean leaves of a door. The exact meaning of the Hebrew word translated folding is also uncertain. It comes from a Hebrew root meaning “to roll.” Based on this, some translations say that each door was “decorated with two carved rings” (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie). Most interpreters, however, understand these words to mean that the doors were made of two parts that folded in half. But other interpreters think the Hebrew word for folding refers to hinges or “swivel-pins” (Revised English Bible) upon which the doors turned. For the whole verse Revised English Bible says “and a double door of pine, each leaf having two swivel-pins.”

Other attempts to make sense of the Hebrew for the whole verse include “The two doors were of fir wood; each door was banded by a metal strap, front and back” (New American Bible) and “and the two leaves of juniper; one leaf had two ribs binding it, and the other had two ribs binding it” (New Jerusalem Bible). The meanings of these two translations, however, are not clear.

Instead of reading and the two leaves at the end of the verse, the Masoretic Text says “and the two curtains.” The Hebrew nouns for leaves (tselaʾim) and “curtains” (qelaʾim) have a similar sound, which may have led to a copyist’s error in the Masoretic Text. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the reading “leaves” in the Septuagint.

For reasons of English style, Good News Translation avoids the repetition from describing each door separately and combines this information in one single statement.

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 .