complete verse (1 Chronicles 28:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 28:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “He also explained/showed the weight of the gold to be used to make the table where bread is being offered, and the weight of the silver which is to be used to make the tables of silver.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He decided on the weight of gold for each table for bread brought and offered, and on the weight of silver for the tables of silver.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “on the gold tables on which the bread were-placed that were-being-offered to God; on the silver tables;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “how much gold for making the table on which the priests would put the sacred bread, how much silver to use to make the other tables,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 28:16

The weight of gold for each table for the showbread: The construction of the gold … table for the showbread is described in Exo 25.23-30. This table was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Only here and in 2 Chr 4.19 is there mention of more than one table for the loaves of bread offered to God. Therefore a few versions refer to only one table for the bread; for example, New Living Translation says “He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed,” and Contemporary English Version has “the gold table which held the sacred loaves of bread.” However, translators should translate the plural both here and in 2 Chr 4.19. For the showbread, see the comments on 1 Chr 9.32. Good News Translation says “the loaves of bread offered to God.”

The silver for the silver tables: Silver tables are mentioned only here in the Old Testament lists concerning the items for the interior of the Temple. Nothing is said regarding how they were used in the Temple. Since the gold tables seem to have been made of wood and covered with gold, the silver tables were probably also made of wood and covered with silver. Contemporary English Version says “the tables made of silver,” but it is better to say “the tables covered with silver.”

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 28:16

28:16a the weight of gold for each table of showbread,

⌊King David told Solomon⌋ the weight of gold for each table of holy bread.
-or-

⌊He told him⌋ how much gold to use for the tables for the bread which represented Yahweh’s presence.

28:16b and of silver for the silver tables;

⌊He told him⌋ the weight of silver for each silver table.
-or-

⌊He told him⌋ how much silver to use for the silver tables.

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