8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah armed with large shields and spears and two hundred eighty thousand troops from Benjamin who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty warriors.
The name that is transliterated as “Asa” in English means “physician,” “healer.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that depicts the concept of order and mandates. As the third king of Judah, Asa ordered the destruction of the altars, he took the cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made (see 1 Kings 15:11 and following). (Source: Missão Kophós )
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
The Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek that is transliterated as “Benjamin” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wolf,” referring to Genesis 49:27. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 14:8:
Kupsabiny: “Asa had three hundred thousand soldiers (300,000) from the province of Judah. They were carrying big shields and spears. He also had two hundred and eighty thousand (280,000) other soldiers that came from the province of Benjamin. They were carrying small shields and arrows. All were warriors who were skilled in battle.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “King Asa had and army [consisting of] 300,000 men from Judah bearing shields and spears and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing shields, bows and arrows. They were all brave soldiers.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Asa had 300,000 soldiers who of/from-Juda, who were-armed with large shields and spears. And he had also 280,000 soldiers who of/from-Benjamin, who were-armed with small shields and bows. All of these were good soldiers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah. They all carried large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin in his army. They carried smaller shields, and bows and arrows. They were all brave soldiers.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, armed with bucklers and spears: Judah may be rendered “the tribe of Judah” (New Living Translation, Parole de Vie). The Hebrew noun translated bucklers refers to large shields (see the comments on 1 Chr 12.8 and 2 Chr 9.15). Neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation makes this distinction, but a number of versions say “large shields” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Bible en français courant, Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible Pléiade). For spears see the comments on 1 Chr 11.11.
And two hundred and eighty thousand men from Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows: Benjamin may be rendered “the tribe of Benjamin” (New Living Translation, Parole de Vie). The Hebrew word for shields refers to smaller shields, as in 1 Chr 5.18 and 2 Chr 9.16 (see the comments there). Several versions make this explicit by saying “small shields” (New International Version, Bible en français courant, Nouvelle Bible Segond, La Bible Pléiade). Drew bows may be rendered “knew how to shoot with a bow” (see the comments on 1 Chr 5.18).
All these were mighty men of valor: For mighty men of valor, see the comments on 1 Chr 12.21. This phrase may be translated “outstanding soldiers” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “valiant warriors” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible).
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 .
Asa’s army had three hundred thousand soldiers from Judah. -or-
King Asa had an army of three hundred thousand (300,000) men from ⌊the clan of⌋ Judah.
14:8b bearing large shields and spears,
They were armed with large shields and spears. -or-
They each carried a large shield and a spear.
14:8c and 280,000 men from Benjamin
He also had two hundred and eighty thousand soldiers from Benjamin. -or-
There were also two hundred and eighty thousand (280,000) men from ⌊the clan of⌋ Benjamin.
14:8d bearing small shields and drawing the bow.
They were armed with small shields and bows. -or-
They each carried a small shield and a bow.
14:8e All these were mighty men of valor.
These men were all good fighting men. -or-
All of them were soldiers who fought well.
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