snuffer

The Hebrew that is translated as “snuffer” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “implement for extinguishing the lamp of the lampstand” (source: Newari Back Translation).

bronze

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “bronze” in English is translated in Newari as “bell-metal,” since bells are made of bronze in Nepal (source: Newari Back Translation).

See also bronze vessel.

complete verse (2 Kings 25:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 25:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those people also went with the ash pots, big spoons, scissors for wicks, spoons used for getting charcoal and all the other utensils of bronze which had been used in the House of God. Nebuzaradan went with everything that was made from gold and silver.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They also took the shovels that are used when the altar is cleaned and the pot into which ashes are put, the tongs, the firepots for offering incense, all these bronze utensils used for the service in the temple.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They also took the pans/frying-pans, shovels, things-for-cutting the wicks, cups, and the other bronze articles in the temple.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “They also took the pots, the shovels, the instruments for snuffing out/extinguishing the wicks of the lamps, the dishes, and all the other bronze items that the Israeli priests had used for offering sacrifices at the temple.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 25:14

They took away …: The Hebrew verb translated took away is a very general term, but in this context it may be rendered “carried off” (Contemporary English Version). In Hebrew this verb comes at the end of the verse, but it is logically moved to the beginning in most versions. As noted in verse 11, the Hebrew word order places the focus on the objects that were taken away rather than on the people (they) who took them away.

While the words pots and shovels render very general terms in Hebrew, the reference here is to instruments that were used exclusively in Temple activities. These instruments are referred to in 1 Kgs 7.45 (see the comments there) and in Exo 27.3 and 38.3.

Snuffers are explained in the discussion on 1 Kgs 7.50 and 2 Kgs 12.13.

At this point in the verse Good News Translation has the phrase “the bowls used for catching blood from the sacrifices,” which is not actually in the Hebrew text here, but is in the parallel text in Jer 52.18. Translators should not harmonize this verse with the parallel verse in Jeremiah.

Dishes for incense: The Hebrew text has only the plural form of the word that is the same as the one used to refer to the palm of the hand (see the discussion on this noun at 1 Kgs 7.50). Here it refers to containers that did, in fact, contain incense for the Temple. Some other possible translations are “ladles” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “saucers” (Revised English Bible), and “cups” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). It will be best to use the same translation for this noun here that is used in 1 Kgs 7.50.

All the vessels of bronze used in the temple service is literally “all the vessels of bronze with which they ministered.” The Hebrew text contains a verb meaning “to minister” or “to serve,” but the Temple is not explicitly mentioned. Nevertheless, the meaning is clearly that all the instruments made of bronze which the priests used in performing their functions in the Temple were taken away. New Jerusalem Bible speaks of “all the bronze furnishings used in worship,” while Contemporary English Version says “the bronze things used for worship at the temple.” Since all the Temple instruments mentioned in this verse were made of bronze, these words may be better rendered “all the other bronze things used for worship at the Temple.”

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 25:14

25:14a They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, dishes,

They also carried away the ash pots/containers, ash shovels/scoops, lamp tongs/shears, and bowls.

-or-

The Babylonian soldiers also removed the buckets and tools ⌊for removing ashes⌋ , the lamp/wick scissors, and the pans ⌊for holding incense⌋ .

25:14b and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service.

They took/carried all the bronze objects used in the work of God’s house.

-or-

They removed any other bronze articles/items that ⌊the priests⌋ used in the temple worship.

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