complete verse (1 Chronicles 29:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 29:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those writings say how his rulership was, how his power was and all the things that happened to him, the people of Israel and all other neighboring lands.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And how he ruled and how strong he was, and the matters of all that happened in the kingdoms round about the nation of Israel have also been recorded [lit.: written].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “It was-written there (in the book) how he reigned, how mighty he (was), and all that happened to him and Israel, and in the surrounding kingdoms.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They told about his powerful rule , and all the things that happened to him and to the people of Israel and in the nearby kingdoms while he was ruling Israel.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 29:30

Revised Standard Version continues the sentence begun in the previous verse, but it may be wise in a number of languages to begin a new sentence at this point as has been done in Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, and New Century Version.

With accounts of all his rule: Revised Standard Version has added the word accounts as the context requires in English.

His might may be rendered “his military might.” Peregrino says “his battles.”

The circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel, and upon all the kingdoms of the countries refers to the different experiences that David, the nation of Israel, and the surrounding nations had. The circumstances is literally “the times.” For this whole clause Revised English Bible says “the times through which he and Israel and all the kingdoms of the world had passed.” All the kingdoms of the countries refers to the countries close to Israel, that is, Egypt, Syria, Philistia, Moab, Edom, Tyre, and Ammon (see especially 1 Chr 18–20; see also 2 Chr 12.8; 17.10; 20.29). Other renderings include “all the neighboring kingdoms” (Peregrino, “all the kingdoms of those regions” (El libro del Pueblo de Dios), “all the kingdoms of the region” (La Bible du Semeur), “the neighboring countries of Israel” (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje), and “all the surrounding kingdoms” (New Living Translation; similarly Good News Translation). The translations “all the kingdoms of the earth” (New Revised Standard Version) and “all the kingdoms of the world” (Revised English Bible) probably say more than the writer intended to say. A good model for this whole clause is found in Bible en français courant, which says “the events that happened in his private life, in the political life of Israel and in that of other kingdoms.”

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 .