son of

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “son of” in English is translated in all Icelandic Bible versions of the Icelandic Bible Society (latest edition 2007) in parallel with the Icelandic naming system . This means that for instance in Matthew 16:17 the name that is transliterated and translated in English as “Simon son of Jonah” becomes “Simon Jónasson” or in Isaiah 8:2 “Zechariah son of Jeberechiah” becomes “Sakaría Jeberekíason” where in both cases the “-son” means “son of.”

In cases where “son of” does not refer to a literal father or perhaps stepfather but to lineage, however, this system is not used. So in Matthew 1:1 “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” is translated as “Jesú Krists, sonar Davíðs, sonar Abrahams.”

The referenced verses all have at least one instance where the Icelandic patronymic or matronymic naming system is used. (Source: Halldór Elías Guðmundsson)

See also daughter of

complete verse (1 Chronicles 9:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 9:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was in charge of the guarding of the gate of the Tent of God when David was ruling.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard of the gate of the tent of meeting.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Zacarias the child of Meshelemia was also a guard in the gate/entrance of the Meeting-Together-Place Tent.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance of the Sacred Tent.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Chronicles 9:21

Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper …: Meshelemiah and his family are spoken of in greater detail in chapter 26. It is possible that Meshelemiah refers to the same person as Shallum in verses 17 and 19 and as Shelemiah in 1 Chr 26.14. But because this is not certain, translators should not harmonize these different verses.

The tent of meeting: Normally this expression refers to the Tabernacle used in the wilderness period at the time of Moses (see the comments on 1 Chr 6.32). But as verse 23 shows, the writer uses it here as a synonym for the Temple (so Contemporary English Version, New Century Version).

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 9:21

9:21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Now Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah was the gatekeeper/doorkeeper at the entrance to the ⌊sacred⌋ tent for meeting ⌊Yahweh⌋ .
-or-
At this time, Zechariah guarded the entrance/gate to the tent ⌊of Yahweh’s presence⌋ . Zechariah’s father was Meshelemiah.

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