complete verse (1 Chronicles 19:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 19:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Joab said to Abishai, ‘If the Arameans overpower me, rescue me. But if the Ammonites overpower you, I shall rescue you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Joab said to Abishai, "If you see the Arameans defeating me, come and help me, if I see the Ammonites defeating you, I will come and help you.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Joab said to Abisai, ‘If you (sing.) see that we (excl.) seem to-be -defeated by the Arameanhon, you (plur.) help us (excl.), and if you (plur.) also seem to-be-defeated by the Ammonhon we (excl.) will-help you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Joab said to them, ‘If the soldiers from Syria are too strong for us to defeat them, then your soldiers must come and help us. But if the soldiers from the Ammon people-group are too strong for you to defeat them, then my soldiers will come and help your men.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 19:12

And he said: The pronoun he refers to Joab, who was still talking to his brother, Abishai. And in some languages it will be necessary to state clearly to whom he was speaking. Compare “Joab said to his brother” (Bible en français courant) and “Joab said to Abishai” (New Century Version).

If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you: If the enemy forces started to take the upper hand in the battle on either front, the stronger of the two Israelite forces would send some of its men to help the weaker force. In some languages it will be more natural to render If the Syrians are too strong for me as “If the Syrians begin to win the fight” or “If we start losing ground to the Syrians.” Similar language may be used for if the Ammonites are too strong for you. Revised Standard Version uses the contrasting conjunction but to join the two hypothetical situations described. Good News Translation has “and” (also Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible). Others leave the common Hebrew conjunction here untranslated. Translators should use whatever transition seems most natural in the receptor language. You shall help me is literally “you shall be a salvation to me.” The pronouns for you are singular in Hebrew. Grammatically, they clearly refer to the military leaders Joab and Abishai. But all the troops serving under Joab or Abishai would naturally provide help.

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 19:12

19:12a “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab,

Joab told ⌊his brother⌋ , “If the Syrians are too strong for me,
-or-
Joab said to Abishai, “If the Syrian army is defeating ⌊my soldiers⌋ ,

19:12b then you will come to my rescue.

⌊then come and⌋ help me.
-or-

⌊your soldiers should come⌋ to our rescue.

19:12c And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

But if the Ammon ⌊people⌋ are too strong for you, then I will ⌊come to⌋ help you.
-or-
But if ⌊the army of⌋ Ammon is defeating ⌊your soldiers⌋ , then ⌊my soldiers⌋ will ⌊come to your⌋ rescue.

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