Ja-asiel the Mezoba-ite: No place named “Mezobayah” is known in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated the Mezoba-ite has a definite article but does not have the normal Hebrew ending to indicate a clan name. Many interpreters think that the initial letter for “m” (which means “from” in Hebrew) is not part of the name, and therefore they say “Jaasiel from Zobah” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible Pléiade, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). This is probably the best solution. However, other interpreters think that the Hebrew originally said “Jaasiel the Zobaite,” which has the same meaning. Zobah was a Syrian kingdom located north of Israel (1 Sam 14.47). Nouvelle version Segond révisée and Nouvelle Bible Segond take this Hebrew word as part of the warrior’s name, translating “Jaasiel-Metsobaya.”

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 .