complete verse (2 Chronicles 10:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 10:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “So/therefore, the people of the land of Israel of North refused for the people of the house of David to rule them from that time until today.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From that time up till now the Israelites have been enemies of the family of David.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Even until now the Israelinhon have-rebelled the descendants of David.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Ever since that time, the people of the northern tribes of Israel have been rebelling against the descendants of King David.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 10:19

So renders the common Hebrew conjunction as a logical connector. Since the words that follow constitute a summary statement to this section, this kind of connector is quite appropriate.

Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David: For Israel see the comments on 2Chr 10.1. The separate kingdoms of Israel and Judah did not exist yet at the time of the events narrated in verse 1, so Good News Translation translated Israel there as “northern Israel.” But now that the separate kingdoms exist, Good News Translation correctly says “the northern kingdom of Israel” here (similarly New Living Translation, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Contemporary English Version provides a different model by rendering this whole clause as “the people of Israel have been opposed to David’s descendants in Judah.”

Has been in rebellion translates a single verb in Hebrew, which means “to break with.” It will be better translated in some languages as “has been rebelling.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “has been in revolt,” while Bible en français courant says “has rejected the authority of.”

The house of David refers to the descendants of David. A literal translation is not recommended (see the model below).

For to this day, see the comments on 1 Chr 4.41. In this context the phrase may be rendered “from that time until now.”

New Living Translation provides a good model for expressing the meaning of this verse, saying:

• The northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David to this day.

As noted in the comments on verse 15, Contemporary English Version restructures verses 15-19 to put the events in chronological order. For these five verses Contemporary English Version has:

• When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: “We don’t have to be loyal to David’s family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let’s go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people.”
Adoniram was in charge of the work force, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem.
Everyone from Israel’s northern tribes went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from Judah. And since that day, the people of Israel have been opposed to David’s descendants in Judah. All of this happened just as Ahijah the LORD’s prophet from Shiloh had told Jeroboam.

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 2 Chronicles 10:19

10:19a So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

Since that day, the Israel people have rebelled against the family of David.
-or-
This is how the people of ⌊the northern clans of⌋ Israel became independent. To this day, they will not let the descendants of David be their king.

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