complete verse (1 Chronicles 4:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 4:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “Kenaz had two sons. One was called Othniel and the other Seraiah. Seraiah produced Joab who started a settlement in the Valley of Craftsmen (that place was called like that because many craftsmen lived there.) Othniel also had two sons. They were: Hathath and Meonothai who produced Ophrah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The sons of Kenaz [were] Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel were Hathath and Meonothai.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The male children of Kenaz were Otniel and Seraya. The male children of Otniel were Hathat and Meonotai.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Another descendant of Judah was Jephunneh. His son was Caleb. Caleb’s sons were Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah’s son was Kenaz. The sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah.
    Othniel’s sons were Hathath and Meonothai. Meonothai was the father of Ophrah.
    Seraiah was the father of Joab. Joab was the ancestor of the people who lived in Craftsmen’s Valley. The valley was named that because many of the people who lived there were craftsmen/men who were experts in making things.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 4:13

The sons of Kenaz: The descendants of Kenaz (called Kenizzites) became a tribe in southern Israel that eventually joined with Judah.

Othni-el was one of the “judges” before Israel was ruled by kings (see Jdg 3.7-11).

And the sons of Othni-el: Hathath and Meonothai: As the footnote in Good News Translation indicates, the Masoretic Text does not have the name Meonothai. However, ancient translations in Greek and Latin include this name here. In addition, the plural sons of Othniel leads the reader to expect more than one name, and the presence of the name Meonothai in the next verse without any identification may suggest that his name has accidentally dropped out of the Masoretic Text in verse 13. Many modern versions follow the longer text, which includes the name Meonothai (so Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Osty-Trinquet). La Bible Pléiade includes this name in square brackets to show that it is not in the original, but a footnote explains that it was accidentally omitted from the Hebrew. However, the presence or absence of this name is not dealt with in Hebrew Old Testament Text Project or Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament.

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 4:13

4:13a The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah.

Kenaz’s sons ⌊were⌋ Othniel and Seraiah.
-or-
Kenaz ⌊was⌋ the father of Othniel and Seraiah.

4:13b The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.

Othniel’s sons ⌊were⌋ Hathath and Meonothai.
-or-
Othniel ⌊was⌋ the father of Hathath and Meonothai.

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