complete verse (2 Chronicles 17:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 17:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Two hundred thousand (200,000) soldiers came from the clan of Benjamin and they had bows and spears. The man who was leading these soldiers was Eliada who was very skilled in battle.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “[The captains] from Benjamin —
    Eliada, a brave soldier, with him were 200,000 soldiers equipped with bows, arrows, and shields.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Eliada, a good/skilled man, was the commander of 200,000 soldiers who of/from-Benjamin. These soldiers have shields and bows.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “From the tribe of Benjamin,
    Eliada, who was a brave soldier, was the leader of the soldiers; he commanded 200,000 men who had bows and arrows and shields.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

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.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 17:17

Of Benjamin refers to the tribe of Benjamin.

Eliada, a mighty man of valor: Eliada was the top commander of the soldiers from Benjamin. A mighty man of valor may be rendered “a mighty warrior” (New Revised Standard Version), “an experienced soldier” (Revised English Bible), or “an outstanding soldier” (Good News Translation).

With two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield: This phrase leaves a certain amount of information implied. Each of the 200,000 men under the command of Eliada was issued a bow and shield. For this reason Good News Translation uses the plural “shields and bows.” But it is certainly understood that those who had bows were also given arrows. So in some languages it may be advisable to make this explicit by saying “bows and arrows as well as shields.” However, in certain languages there is a single term that refers to the bow and arrow combination as a weapon. For the Hebrew words rendered bow and shield, see the comments on 1 Chr 5.18.

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 17:17

17:17a From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor,

From Benjamin, there was a mighty/virtuous soldier called Eliada.
-or-
From the clan of Benjamin there was Eliada, a brave soldier.

17:17b and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

He was in charge of two hundred thousand soldiers armed with bows and shields.
-or-
He led 200,000 soldiers who had bows and arrows and shields.

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