complete verse (1 Chronicles 23:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 23:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “And Eliezer, he had just one son who was called Rehabiah. He was the big one/leader in their house and he had many descendants.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Rehabiah was the only son of Eliezer, but Rehabiah had many sons.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Eliezer had only one male child who was Rehabia the chief-leader/[lit. chief-head of their family]. Rehabia had very many descendants.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 23:17

The sons of Eliezer …: Along with Gershom, Eliezer was one of Moses’ two sons (verse 15). In this context sons must mean “descendants.”

Rehabiah the chief (literally “Rehabiah the head”) means he was the leader of Eliezer’s clan. Braun says “The sons of Eliezer had Rehabiah as chief.” Good News Translation and Bible en français courant do not express the idea that Rehabiah was the head or chief of the clan. But this information should not be omitted. The following translation of the whole verse expresses the intended meaning: “Eliezer had only one son, Rehabiah, but Rehabiah, who was the head of the clan, had many descendants.”

In 1 Chr 24.21 the longer form of the name Rehabiah name is used, which is “Rehabiahu” (La Bible Pléiade, Chouraqui), but nearly all versions use the shorter form both here and in chapter 24.

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 23:17

23:17a The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first.

Eliezer’s oldest son was Rehabiah. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
Eliezer’s only son was Rehabiah. (God’s Word)

23:17b Eliezer did not have any other sons,

Eliezer had no other sons. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
Rehabiah had no brothers,

23:17c but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

But Rehabiah had very many sons. (English Easy-to-Read Version)
-or-
but he had many descendants.

23:17a–c (combined)

Eliezer had only one son, Rehabiah, the family leader. Rehabiah had numerous descendants. (New Living Translation (2004))

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