cubit

The Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek that is translated as “cubit” or into a metric or imperial measurement in English is translated in Kutu, Kwere, and Nyamwezi as makono or “armlength.” Since a cubit is the measurement from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, one armlength (measured from the center of the chest to the fingertips) equals two cubits or roughly 1 meter. (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

In Klao it is converted into “hand spans” (app. 6 inches or 12 cm) and “finger spans” (app. 1 inch or 2 cm) (Source: Don Slager)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 25:17

Eighteen cubits is approximately “27 feet” (Good News Translation; similarly New International Version, New Century Version) or, using the metric system, about “nine meters” (Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Peregrino) or “more than eight meters” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). See the comments on 1 Kgs 7.15.

A capital of bronze: The idea of a capital may be very difficult to express in certain cases. Some languages may have to use a word like “head,” “top,” or “fringe.” See the discussion at 1 Kgs 7.16.

Instead of giving the height of the capital as three cubits, several modern translations and commentaries harmonize the height with that in Jer 52.22 and 1 Kgs 7.16 and read “five cubits” (New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, American Bible, Gray). Nevertheless, there is no textual evidence here to allow this change. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, with an {A} rating, recommends “three cubits,” which would be about “4½; feet” (Good News Translation; similarly New International Version), or, using the metric system, “a meter and a half” (Bible en français courant; similarly La Bible du Semeur).

Regarding the network and the pomegranates, see the comments at 1 Kgs 7.17-18.

The second pillar had the like, with the network: This clause may be better expressed by simply beginning the verse with “Each column” (Contemporary English Version) instead of one pillar. Good News Translation accomplishes the same purpose by beginning with “The two columns were identical.”

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 .