complete verse (1 Kings 16:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 16:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Omri left Gibbethon with his soldiers and surrounded Tirzah city.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Omri and the Israelite army left Gibbethon, and they attacked Tirzah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Omri and his companions who comes-from-Israel left from Gibeton, and they attacked Tirza.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The Israeli army was camped near Gibbethon city. When they heard what Zimri had done, they left there and went to Tirzah, and surrounded the city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 16:17

So Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him: Both New International Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translate went up as “withdrew.” New Living Translation reads “So Omri led the army of Israel away from Gibbethon.” It is not essential to convey the idea of moving from a lower to a higher elevation contained in the literal rendering of the verb used here.

They besieged Tirzah: For the verb beseiged, see the comments on 1 Kgs 8.37 and 15.27. They attacked Tirzah because this was the capital city where Zimri was located (verse 15). Compare “to attack Tirzah, Israel’s capital” (New Living Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 16:17

16:17a Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon

Then Omri and all the Israelite ⌊soldiers⌋ with him left Gibbethon
-or-
Then Omri led the army of Israel away from Gibbethon.

16:17b and besieged Tirzah.

and besieged/surrounded ⌊the city of⌋ Tirzah instead.
-or-
They went to ⌊Zimri’s city⌋ Tirzah and began to besiege/attack it.

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