LORD of hosts

The Hebrew that is translated as “Lord of hosts” in English (or: “Yahweh of Armies” [translation by John Goldingay, 2018], “Hashem, Master of Legions” [ArtScroll Tanach translation, 2011]) is translated in various ways:

  • Kankanaey: “God the Highest Ruler” (source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: Lord Almighty” (source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Kutu: Mndewa Imulungu or “Lord with all power” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Mandarin Chinese: Wànjūnzhī Yēhéhuá / Shàngzhǔ (万军之耶和华 / 上主) or “Jehovah / Lord of 10,000 [=all] armies”
  • Mandinka: “Yawe God of the universe” (source: Rob Koops)
  • German (Luther) Bible the second part of the name is transliterated: Herr Zebaoth or “Lord Zebaoth” (Swedish, Finnish and Latvian use the same translation strategy). The Russian Orthodox Synod translation uses a transliteration of the second part of the designation as well: Господь Саваоф / Gospod’ Savaof.
  • Finnish Ortodoksinen Liturginen Psalttari (2021): taivaan voimien Herra or “the Lord of the forces of heaven” (source: Seppo Sipilä in The Bible Translator 2011, p. 12ff. )

The traditional French translation of l’Eternel/Yahve/le Seigneur/Seigneur des armées (“Lord of the armies”) presents a problem when listened to, as Jean-Marc Babut explains (in The Bible Translator 1985, p. 411ff. ):

“For the hearer, the traditional translation l’Eternel/Yahvé/le Seigneur des armées can easily be taken in a bad sense: there is nothing, in fact, to prevent the listener from hearing l’Eternel désarmé, ‘the Eternal One disarmed’ or ‘stripped of his power’! (…). Thus the Bible en français courant [publ. 1997] has decided to use the expression Seigneur/Dieu de l’univers, “Lord/God of the Universe”. This formula, which has an undeniably liturgical ring, seems to have been favorably received by users.”

Other, later French Bibles who have chosen a similar strategy, include Parole de Vie (publ. 2017) with Seigneur de l’univers or Bible Segond 21 (publ. 2007) with l’Eternel, le maître de l’univers.

See also Lord of hosts, host / powers, Pantokrator, and Lord Almighty.

complete verse (1 Chronicles 11:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 11:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “David continued to get power in his rulership because the God of power blessed him.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then David got stronger and stronger. Because the LORD, the greatest one, was with him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was-helping him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “David became more and more powerful/influential, because the Almighty Commander of the armies of angels was with/helping him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 11:9

And David became greater and greater is literally “And David went, going and becoming great.” Translators must be careful to avoid giving the impression that David became physically taller, stronger, or fatter. This statement has to do with his political and military power. In some cases it will be advisable to say more directly “David became an increasingly powerful leader.” Revised English Bible has “David steadily grew more and more powerful.”

For the LORD of hosts was with him: The connector for introduces the theological reason for David’s increased political strength. The Hebrew actually has only the common conjunction that is often translated “and.” But in this context it may be rendered “because” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Living Translation). The Hebrew expression rendered the LORD of hosts is sometimes transliterated “Yahweh Sabaoth” (New Jerusalem Bible). The precise meaning of this title is not certain. “Sabaoth,” traditionally translated as “hosts,” may refer to (1) the armies of Israel (as in 1 Sam 17.45), (2) angelic beings (as in Psa 103.21; 148.2), or (3) heavenly bodies, that is, the stars (as in Isa 40.26). However, the general meaning of this title is clear. It designates the LORD as the one who is an all-powerful ruler. Hence some versions use the expression “the LORD Almighty” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “the LORD All-Powerful” (Contemporary English Version). Others say “the Lord of heaven’s armies” (International Children’s Bible) or “the LORD of the Armies” (Nouvelle Bible Segond, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Peregrino; similarly La Bible Pléiade). The LORD of hosts is still common in English versions (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible), even though the word hosts is no longer used in contemporary English to mean “armies.” Translators should probably try to use a word or expression for hosts with wider meaning, such as “Almighty” or “All-Powerful,” rather than one with a narrower meaning like “armies.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 11:9

11:9a And David became greater and greater,

David became more and more great/influential,
-or-
David kept having more and more influence all the time.

11:9b for the LORD of Hosts was with him.

because Yahweh, the God of armies, was helping him.
-or-
This was because Yahweh, All Powerful, was helping him.

11:9:a–b (combined)

Yahweh, the commander of armies, was with David. Therefore, he became more and more great/influential.

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.