The name that is transliterated as “Arphaxad” or “Arpachshad” in English means “one that releases,” “a jar pouring forth,” “I shall fail at the breast.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that suggests “expansion of people.” Arphaxad is the grandson of Noah and is known for being a pioneer in the expansion of people. (Source: Missão Kophós )
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Shem” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign that signifies “Arab,” referring to the fact that Shem traditionally is seen as the forefather of Semitic people, including Abraham and his descendants (see Genesis 11:26 et al.)(Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Note that the terms “Semite” and “Semitic” are derived from “Shem.”
Verses 24-27 repeat some of the information given in verses 17-18, but here only the names in the family line from Shem to Abraham are listed (compare Gen 11.10-26). Shem was the father of Arpachshad, Arpachshad was the father of Shelah, and so on. At the beginning of verse 24 Good News Translation adds “The family line from Shem to Abram is as follows.” It is not correcting the Masoretic Text by adding these words, but it is making the text clear. Different translations present the names in these verses in various ways. Revised English Bible, for example, begins with “The line of Shem: Arphaxad, Shelah….” New Jerusalem Bible and Bible de Jérusalem have the section heading “From Shem to Abraham,” and then omit the name Shem and simply list the other names in these verses. International Children’s Bible begins with “The family line went from Shem to Abraham. It included Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah….”
For the name Arpachshad and its spelling, see the comments on verse 17.
For Shelah and Eber, see the comments on verse 18.
For Peleg see the comments on verse 19.
Reu represents the sixteenth generation from Adam. He was the son of Peleg and the father of Serug.
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 .
Ishmaiah … a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty (verse 4): For the thirty, see the introductory comments on 1 Chr 11.10-47. Nearly all translations say that Ishmaiah was included among the Thirty and was a leader of the Thirty, and this seems to be the meaning of the Hebrew. However, New American Bible says he was “a warrior on the level of the Thirty,” which seems to suggest that he was not included among the Thirty.
Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah (verse 4): This last part of verse 4 is numbered as verse 5 in New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and most non-English versions because it is so numbered in the Hebrew text. This means that from this point to the end of the chapter there is a difference of one number between the Hebrew, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh on the one hand and the majority of English versions on the other hand (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). Of Gederah is literally “the Gederathite.” Jozabad was from the town of Gederah in southern Judah (see 1 Chr 4.23).
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 .
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