The Hebrew infinitive translated saying is found at the beginning of this verse, as reflected in Revised Standard Version. This will probably be the most natural place for it in most languages although Good News Translation has placed it in the middle of the quotation.

To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance: In the Hebrew text the pronoun you is singular, but the pronoun your is plural. Perhaps this means that in verse 17 “Jacob” refers to the patriarch and “Israel” refers to the people of Israel. If this interpretation is followed, then verse 17 may be translated “With a law the LORD confirmed his promises to Jacob, and made an eternal covenant with the people of Israel” (similarly New Living Translation).

The Hebrew word translated portion suggests something that has been measured out, a part of something larger. The idea of this verse is that while God has given other nations separate pieces of land, Canaan would be the part that would belong to Israel. The meaning is clearly expressed in Revised English Bible with “I shall give you the land of Canaan … as your allotted holding.” In many languages inheritance is something a person receives when a parent dies. Here the sense is that God gives the land of Canaan to the people of Israel, without any suggestion that anyone has died.

While Contemporary English Version‘s rendering of verses 16-18 is perhaps too concise, it certainly sums up the meaning: “16 God made an eternal promise 17 to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 18 when he said, ‘I’ll give you the land of Canaan.’ ”

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 .