complete verse (1 Chronicles 26:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 26:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “Meshelemiah had seven sons. The firstborn son was called Zechariah, followed by Jediael, followed by Zebadiah, followed by Jathniel,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sons of Meshelemiah [were] Zechariah, the biggest; Jediael, the second; Zebadiah, the third; Jathniel, the fourth,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and his seven male children who were Zecarias, the eldest, then Jediel, Zebadia, Jatniel,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The oldest son of Meshelemiah was Zechariah. His other sons were Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 26:2 - 26:3

And Meshelemiah had sons …: The Hebrew form of giving the number of the birth order after each name here results in a heavy English style when translated literally. Good News Translation restructures these two verses by beginning with “He had seven sons, listed in order of age…” (similarly Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje). This restructuring does away with the need to use the ordinal numerals with each name.

Zechariah was a gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tabernacle according to 1 Chr 9.21.

Zebadiah is literally “Zevadyahu” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

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 26:2

26:2a Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn,

Meshelemiah’s firstborn son was Zechariah.
-or-
Meshelemiah was the father of Zechariah who was the eldest son.
-or-
The oldest son of Meshelemiah was Zechariah.

26:2b Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third,

Meshelemiah’s second son was Jediael. His third son was Zebadiah.
-or-

⌊Meshelemiah was also the father of⌋ Jediael and Zebadiah

26:2c Jathniel the fourth,

Meshelemiah’s fourth son was Jathniel.
-or-
and Jathniel

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