complete verse (Jeremiah 42:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 42:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, all the leaders of soldiers got up together with Johanan son of Kareah and Azariah son of Hoshaiah and all the people from the big ones to the small ones.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, Johanan the child of Karea, Jezaria the child of Hoshaya, and their fellow/companion officials of the soldiers came-near to Jeremias, as-well-as all the people from the least to the greatest.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Johanan and Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the other leaders of the Israeli soldiers who had not surrendered to the army of Babylonia, and many other people, including those who were important and those who were not important, came” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 42:1

Commanders of the forces; that is, “army leaders” (Good News Translation) or “military leaders” (New Jerusalem Bible).

As the Revised Standard Version note indicates, Azariah is taken from the Septuagint; the Hebrew has “Jezaniah.” The decision to follow the Septuaguint is based upon the observation that in 43.2 “Azariah” is also found. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “Jezaniah,” on the assumption that a later scribe must have attempted to make 42.1 parallel with 43.2. Our recommendation is to follow the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project preference, although most versions have followed Revised Standard Version.

All the people from the least to the greatest: See 6.13.

Came near is better expressed as “came to [Jeremiah].”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .