The wording of this verse may require some restructuring in other languages. The prepositional phrase In the most holy place at the beginning of the verse may be placed more naturally at the end as in Good News Translation and some other modern versions.

He made two cherubim of wood: As above, Solomon himself did not make these things. In some languages it will be necessary to render made as “had his workers make” (Good News Translation) or to use a causative verb form. For the two cherubim, see the comments on 1 Chr 13.6. There is a textual problem in this clause. In the Hebrew text after two cherubim, there is a Hebrew word that occurs only here in the Old Testament, and its meaning is not clear. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has a footnote on this verse stating that the meaning of the Hebrew word translated “molded” in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is uncertain; and Einheitsübersetzung has a note that states “Hebrew is partially incomprehensible.” In fact, Einheitsübersetzung simply places an ellipsis in the verse rather than attempting to translate the Hebrew word as follows: “In the most holy place he had two cherubim made up … and covered with gold.” So what should translators do here?

• (1) According to Revised Standard Version, the cherubim were made of wood (also Moffatt, Reina-Valera revisada, Osty-Trinquet), but this translation is based on a correction of the Hebrew text to make the text agree with the Septuagint and the parallel in 1 Kgs 6.23. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text here and says that the Septuagint translation is the result of harmonizing this verse with the parallel in 1 Kgs 6.23.

• (2) Assuming that the Masoretic Text is correct here, some interpreters think that this rare Hebrew word means “to fashion by smelting” and refers to molten images. This understanding is the basis for translations that say the cherubim were made “out of metal” (Good News Translation), “out of molten metal” (Bible en français courant, Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente), or “of wrought metal work” (New Jerusalem Bible). For the whole clause Anchor Bible says “He made two molten cherubs.” Other interpreters think that the Hebrew word means “to fashion” or “to model.” This understanding seems to be the basis for An American Translation, which says that he made the two cherubim “of image work.” La Bible Pléiade similarly says they were a “work of sculpture.”

And overlaid them with gold: The Hebrew verb rendered overlaid is third person plural. Most translations change the verb to third person singular, referring to Solomon. But the Hebrew plural verb may be translated as in New American Bible, which says “which were then overlaid with gold.” In languages that use the third person plural as a kind of substitute for a passive form, a literal rendering may be quite appropriate here.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .