Chaldean

The name that is transliterated as “Chaldean” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with the sign that combines “Mesopotamia” (see here) and “spreading out,” since the Chaldeans originated in southern Mesopotamia and spread out from there. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Chaldean” in Libras (source )

More information about Chaldea .

complete verse (2 Kings 25:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 25:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, all the people of Judah including both small and big/important together with leaders of soldiers left and fled to Egypt because they were afraid of the people of Babylon.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So, being afraid of the Babylonians, from the smallest to the most important, and even the captains of the army, all of them escaped to the land of Egypt.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Because of this, all people from the most-honored to the lowest, including the officers of the soldiers, fled to Egipto for they were afraid of what those from/of-Babilonia would-do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then many of the people from Judah, important people and unimportant ones, and the army captains, were very afraid of what the Babylonians would do to them, so they fled to Egypt.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 25:26

A description of this flight of the remaining Israelites into Egypt is found also in Jer 43.5-7.

All the people, both small and great: This expression probably refers to social class rather than to physical size or age. These words may, however, intend to be all-inclusive, in which case a translation such as “the whole population” (Bible en français courant) will be acceptable. See the comments at 2 Kgs 23.2.

The captains of the forces: See the comments at verse 23, where the Hebrew expression here is translated “the captains of the forces in the open country.”

Arose, and went: The verb arose should not be taken to imply that the Israelites had necessarily been sitting or lying down. When this verb is used together with the verb went, it simply denotes the initiation of significant action (see the discussion on Hebrew serial verbs in “Translating 1–2 Kings,” pages 15-16). Revised English Bible translates the two together with the verb “fled.”

For they were afraid of the Chaldeans: The connector for introduces the reason why the Israelites fled. It was because of their fear of the Babylonians that they acted in the way that they did.

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 .