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 29:25

And he stationed in the house of the LORD: The pronoun he refers to King Hezekiah, which Good News Translation makes clear by saying “The king.” The Hebrew verb rendered stationed is a causative form of the verb meaning “to stand in position.” Since only the priests could enter the most holy part of the Temple, it should probably be made clear that the house of the LORD here refers to the Temple courtyard. Parole de Vie says “the court of the temple.”

With cymbals, harps, and lyres: For these instruments see the comments on 1 Chr 13.8.

According to the commandment of David: See 1 Chr 25.1 and 2 Chr 8.14-15.

And of Gad the king’s seer: See the comments on 1 Chr 21.9. Since both King David and King Hezekiah are in view here, it may be helpful to render the king’s seer as “King David’s prophet” for clarity.

And of Nathan the prophet: See the introductory comments on 1 Chr 17.1-15.

For the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets is literally “for by the hand of the LORD [was] the commandment by the hand of his prophets.” It was ultimately the LORD who gave the instructions concerning the use of the musical instruments by the Levites. NET Bible has a useful model for this sentence by making it parenthetical, saying “(The LORD had actually given these orders through his prophets.)”

For this whole verse Contemporary English Version says:

• Next, Hezekiah assigned the Levites to their places in the temple. He gave them cymbals, harps, and other stringed instruments, according to the instructions that the LORD had given King David and the two prophets, Gad and Nathan.

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 29:25

29:25a Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD

Then Hezekiah placed Levites in Yahweh’s temple
-or-
Then King Hezekiah told men from the Levi clan to stand in the house of Yahweh.

29:25b with cymbals, harps, and lyres

with cymbals, small harps and large harps.
-or-
Each of them had bells, or small stringed instruments, or large stringed instruments.

29:25c according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet.

This was what David commanded, and also Gad the king’s prophet, and the prophet Nathan.
-or-
These were the instruments that King David told them to use by way of the prophets named Gad and Nathan.

29:25d For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

⌊They did this because⌋ Yahweh commanded them to do so through his prophets.
-or-
This is what Yahweh told the people to do through his prophets.

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