In this verse the second group of “workmen” mentioned in the previous verse are defined in greater detail.

Carpenters … builders … masons: The problem with this series is that there are two rather specific terms (carpenters and masons) as well as a much more general term (builders). Carpenters and masons are also builders. Carpenters build things with wood while masons use stones. So it may be better to say something like “carpenters, masons, and other builders.”

The Hebrew noun rendered carpenters refers to “craftsmen” in general. In some contexts (for example, 2 Sam 5.11), it refers to craftsmen who work with wood. In other contexts (for example, 1 Sam 13.19, where it is rendered “smith”), it refers to craftsmen who work with metal. Here, as in 2 Kgs 12.11, this noun refers to craftsmen who work with wood.

For builders see the comments on 2 Kgs 12.11.

Masons translates a Hebrew participle whose root meaning is “to build up a wall [with stones].” Some scholars suggest that the Hebrew participle should be corrected by changing one letter. This is the basis for the rendering “stone-hewers” (Gray), but there is no textual evidence to support such a change. It may be noted that New American Bible renders the word usually translated masons as “lumbermen.” But most scholars take this word to refer to people who built with stones. The rendering “bricklayers” (New Century Version) is also possible here since bricks were sometimes used for building at this time, but less frequently than stones were. For further discussion on masons, see 2 Kgs 12.12.

Timber is literally “trees” (see 2 Kgs 12.12). Many languages have no special word for timber, so it may be necessary to speak of “trees,” “cut trees,” or “large pieces of wood.”

Quarried stone refers to stones that have been prepared for use in building by cutting them into the desired shapes and sizes necessary for the job at hand. See 2 Kgs 12.12. This type of stone is referred to in other translations as “dressed stone” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible), “hewn stone[s]” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible), “squared stone” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “cut stone” (New Century Version).

The wording of the long sentence that makes up verses 5-6 may sound awkward if translated literally in other languages. In fact, the two verses may have to be radically restructured. The following model may be helpful in some languages:

• Tell him to give the money to the men who are responsible for repairing the Temple. Those men, in turn, must pay the carpenters, the masons, and the other builders. They must also buy the wood and the cut stones that these workmen will need to make the repairs.

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 .