It is stated in 2 Sam 7.12-13 and 1 Chr 17.11-12 that David’s son, and not David himself, would build the Temple.

Nevertheless renders a common Hebrew adverb that expresses exception. It should be translated with a strong adversative, such as “however” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible), “and yet” (New Jerusalem Bible), “nevertheless” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version), or “but” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

In Hebrew some of the pronouns in this verse give a slightly stronger contrast than is reflected in Revised Standard Version. The force of the Hebrew is more accurately expressed as “nevertheless as for you, you shall not … but your son who shall be born to you, it is he who….” In languages that have emphatic pronouns, it will be appropriate to use them here.

Who shall be born to you is literally “the one coming from your loins.” Compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh: “the issue of your loins.” The word “loins” refers to that part of the body between the ribs and the hipbones. These words in Hebrew serve to emphasize that it is David’s very own son (compare Good News Translation). For the last half of the verse, Contemporary English Version says simply “Your son will build a temple to honor me,” but this rendering fails to capture the force of the Hebrew. Better is Bible en français courant, which renders the whole verse as follows: “It is not you who will build it, but your son. Yes, it’s your own son who will build this temple for me!”

For my name: Good News Translation does not translate these words, but they should be translated. Compare New American Bible: “to my honor.”

In verses 18-19 if the direct quotation of what the LORD said to David within the words of Solomon is problematic in some languages, the following model may be considered:

• The LORD told David that his desire to build a house where people would worship God was a good thing. But he went on to say that it was not he [David], but his very own son [Solomon] who would one day build the house where people would worship God.

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 .