round

In Gbaya, the notion of something round is emphasized in the referenced verses with kirkiti, an ideophone that designates a round object.

In 2 Chronicles 3:5 it refers to the round stems of (artificial) palm trees around which chains were circled and in Zechariah 5:7 to a round lid that was lifted.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

complete verse (2 Chronicles 4:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Chronicles 4:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “Two pillars of bronze together with their caps/crowns and chains that were plaited and made to decorate those crowns.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Huram [made] bowl-shaped caps which were on the top parts of the two pillars,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “the two post;
    the two like bowls head/tops above the posts;
    the two interlocked things-like-chains which (are)decoration(s) on the heads of the posts;” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “These were the things that they made:
    the two large pillars,
    the two bowl-shaped top parts on top of the pillars,
    the two sets of carvings that resembled chains to decorate the tops of the two pillars,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Chronicles 4:12

The two pillars (verse 12): See 2 Chr 3.15.

The bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars (verse 12): See 2 Chr 3.15. Revised Standard Version follows the Masoretic Text here, which refers to both the bowls and the two capitals. But many versions make a slight change in the Masoretic Text so that the wording agrees with the parallel text in 1 Kgs 7.41, which refers to bowl-shaped capitals. Renderings that make this change are “the two bowl-shaped capitals on the tops of the pillars” (Revised English Bible), “two nodes for the capitals topping these two columns” (New American Bible), “the mouldings of the capitals surmounting the two pillars” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “the two rounded capitals on the top of the columns” (Moffatt). Such a correction of the Masoretic Text is recommended.

The two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars (verse 12): See the comments on 2 Chr 3.16.

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 4:12

4:12a the two pillars; the two bowl-shaped capitals atop the pillars;

He made the two (2) columns. He also made the caps/tops for the two (2) columns in the shape of bowls.

4:12b the two sets of network covering both bowls of the capitals

He also made decorative lattice/chain braids on the caps

4:12c atop the pillars;

that were at the top of the columns.

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