complete verse (1 Chronicles 28:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 28:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “He showed/explained the heaviness/weight of the lamps of gold and the things of gold on which those lamps were to be placed, the heaviness of the lamps of silver and the things of silver on which those lamps were to be placed. The work of those things on which lamps were to be placed was not the same.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He decided on the weights needed for the gold lampstand and its lamp pot, and for the silver lampstand and its lamp pot.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “on the gold lamps and its place-to-put; on the silver lamps and its place-to-put;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “how much gold for making the gold lampstands and the lamps, how much silver to make the silver lamps and lampstands,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:15

This verse in the Hebrew seems repetitious and heavy when translated literally into English. Some scholars think that a scribe accidentally repeated the first word of this verse, and they correct the Hebrew text. Even translations that are based on the Hebrew as it stands may simplify for reasons of style in the receptor language, as Good News Translation has done. Compare also Bible en français courant, which reads “as well as the weight of the golden lampstands and lamps, of the silver lampstands and lamps, according to the respective uses.”

For the construction of the lamps and the lampstands, see Exo 25.31-40; 37.17-24. The lampstands were probably stands that were cylindrical in shape with their tops and bottoms flaring out. For a good description of these objects, see WTH, pages 245-247|fig:WTH.Lampstand, menorah.245-247.html.

According to the use of each lampstand in the service may be rendered “depending on how each would be used” (New Living Translation). New Century Version says “The different lampstands were to be used where needed,” but the point is rather that the amount of gold and silver used depended on how each lampstand was to be used.

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 28:15

28:15a the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps,

⌊He/David told him/Solomon⌋ the weight required for the gold lampstands and the lamps that were/went on them.
-or-

⌊He told him⌋ how much gold they should use for the lamps and lamp holders

28:15b including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps;

⌊He also told him the total⌋ weight required for the lampstands and the lamps on them.
-or-
and how heavy they should be.

28:15c the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps,

⌊He told him⌋ the weight required for the silver lampstands and the lamps on them.
-or-

⌊He told him⌋ how much silver they should use for the lamps and lamp holders.

28:15d according to the use of each lampstand;

⌊Their weight⌋ depended on the use/purpose of each lampstand.
-or-
The lampstands had different uses ⌊therefore their weight was different⌋ .
-or-
The lampstands ⌊had varying/different weights because the Levites⌋ used them for different purposes.

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