complete verse (Nehemiah 7:44)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Nehemiah 7:44:

  • Kupsabiny: “The singers/musicians of the house of Asaph were 148.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “These are the descendants of the Levites who also returned from being-captive:
    Descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (from the family of Hodavia) 74
    Singers in the temple who were the descendants of Asaf 148
    Guards of the entrance/gates of the temple who were the descendants of Sallum, Ater, Talmon, Akub, Hatita, and Shobai 138” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “148 singers who are descendants of Asaph.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Nehemiah 7:43 - 7:45

For these verses refer to Ezra 2.40-42.

The sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah: The Hebrew text is not clear here, but on the basis of Ezra 2.40, many versions list Jeshua and Kadmiel together as Good News Translation has done, identifying them as belonging to the family line of Hodevah (referred to as Hodaviah in Ezra 2.40). Revised Standard Version and New International Version understand it to list only Jeshua in the line of Kadmiel and Hodaviah. Others like New Jerusalem Bible attempt to retain the ambiguity of the Hebrew. See the almost identical text in Ezra 2.40 where it is recommended that “Jeshua and Kadmiel of the sons of Hodaviah” be translated as a series of four names: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Binnui and Hodaviah. This is given a B rating by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project for the passage here also, and should be followed. It is preferable to spell the name Hodevah as it is spelled here in the Hebrew text, and not to harmonize it with the spelling in Ezra 2.40.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .