Hezekiah

The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that is transliterated as “Hezekiah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the signs for “king” and “facing the wall” referring to Isaiah 38:2. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


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

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that signifies a model, a parameter for his life, referring to “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his ancestor David had done” of 2 Kings 18:3. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Hezekiah” in Libras (source )

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

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

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Hezekiah .

complete verse (2 Kings 18:37)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 18:37:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah tore their clothes in pain. After that, they returned to where king Hezekiah was and told him what the assistant to the king of Assyria had said.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, palace administrator, Shebna, palace secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, keeper of accounts, tore their clothes, then, coming to Hezekiah they told him the words of the Assyrian field commander.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joa tore their clothes because of sadness, and they went to Hezekia and they told what the commander had-said.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Eliakim the palace administrator and Shebna the court secretary and Joah the royal historian went back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn because they were extremely distressed, and they told him what the official from Assyria had said.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 18:37

Good News Translation leaves out the following details found in the Hebrew and maintained in Revised Standard Version, since they are found earlier in verse 18 (see the comments there): the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, the secretary, and the son of Asaph, the recorder. This information need not be repeated here if it is considered unnatural to do so.

In this verse the names Hilkiah and Shebna are spelled a little differently in Hebrew than in verses 18 and 26. However, the spelling of these names here should be in harmony with the earlier verses since they refer to the same persons.

With their clothes rent: This action showed the feeling of extreme sorrow of Hezekiah’s envoys over the Assyrian official’s threat (see the comments at 1 Kgs 21.27 and 2 Kgs 5.7). Since the motive for this action would have been understood by the original readers and hearers, it is legitimate to add it in translation. Good News Translation says “tore their clothes in grief.”

Instead of the words of the Rabshakeh, it may be more natural in many languages to say “all that the Assyrian officer had said to them.” For the translation of the Rabshakeh, see the comments at verse 17.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 18:37

18:37a Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder

Then the officer in charge of the palace, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, the royal secretary, Shebna, and the officer in charge of records, Joah the son of Asaph

-or-

Hilkiah’s son Eliakim, the palace supervisor, Shebna, the official/court scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah, the recorder,

18:37b came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn,

went to meet King Hezekiah. Their clothes were torn ⌊to show their sorrow⌋ .

-or-

tore their clothes ⌊in grief⌋ . They went

18:37c and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

They told the king what the Rabshakeh had said.

-or-

and reported to Hezekiah what the Assyrian official had said.

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