Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 1:40

Alian (verse 40) is the reading in some Hebrew manuscripts. Some modern versions follow this reading but use the spelling “Alyan” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible Pléiade). Other manuscripts have the name “Alvan” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Nueva Versión Internacional, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), in agreement with the spelling in Gen 36.23. The difference in spelling here may be due to a scribe having confused the Hebrew letters waw (Alvan) and yod (Alian). Some interpreters think that Alian is the Hebrew form of the name and that “Alvan” is the Edomite form.

Instead of Shephi (verse 40), a few Hebrew manuscripts have “Shepho” as in Gen 36.23. The name “Shepho” is followed by some translations that tend to harmonize the spellings of names in Genesis and 1 Chronicles (so New International Version, New Living Translation, New Century Version, La Bible du Semeur). In the Hebrew alphabet the difference in appearance between the letters waw (Shepho) and yod (Shephi) is not as great as between the letters “o” and “i” in English.

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 .

complete verse (1 Chronicles 1:40)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 1:40:

  • Kupsabiny: “The sons that Shobal produced were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
    The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The children of Shobal were Alvan, Manahat, Ebal, Shefo, and Onam. The children of Zibeon were Aya and Anah.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 1:40

1:40a The sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

Shobal’s sons ⌊were⌋ Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
-or-

⌊Seir’s second son⌋ Shobal ⌊had⌋ five sons. ⌊Their names were⌋ Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

1:40b The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.

Zibeon’s sons were Aiah and Anah.
-or-

⌊Seir’s third son⌋ Zibeon ⌊had two⌋ sons. ⌊Their names were⌋ Aiah and Anah.

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