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Who repaired the house--2 Kings 12:14?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Logos1560, Feb 20, 2014.

  1. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    2 Kings 12:10, 14

    And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.

    But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
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    According to standard English grammar, what word is the subject for the verb "repaired" at 2 Kings 12:14?

    If it is a pronoun, what is the antecedent for that pronoun that identifies the person or persons for which it stands?
     
  2. franklinmonroe

    franklinmonroe Active Member

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    I admit I don't know grammar well. But it seems to me that the workmen used the money to repair the house of the Lord.
     
  3. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    The context would indicate that the workmen [or the carpenters and builders--2 Kings 12:11] wrought the work or repaired the house of the LORD.

    The question is whether that is what 2 Kings 12;14 in the KJV clearly states.

    According to my understanding of English grammar, the pronoun "they" in "they gave that to the workmen" would also have to be the subject of the verb "repaired." The antecedent of that "they" would be the king's scribe and the high priest since they are the ones who gave the money to the workmen. The scribe and the high priests are not the ones who wrought the work or repaired the house.

    One edition of the KJV printed in London in 1877 and the NKJV has another "they" before repaired, and the antecedent of that "they" would be the workmen. Some of the pre-1611 English Bibles seem to present it more clearly than most editions of the KJV.

    2 Kings 12:14 [see 2 Chron. 24:12-13--the workmen wrought]
    it was given unto the workmen to repair [1535 Coverdale’s]
    they gave that to the workmen to repair [1537 Matthew’s]
    they gave it to the workmen, which repaired [1560 Geneva]
    they gave that to the workmen, and they repaired (1877 London} [NKJV]
    they gave that to the workmen, and repaired (1769 Oxford, SRB) [1769 Cambridge, DKJB]
     
  4. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    We seem to have two choices, those giving the money being credited with the repair, or those doing the work being credited with the repair. The KJV is ambiguous. But it would seem several other translations could also be read that those giving the money were being credited. The NET translates it with clarity, the workmen (foremen) are credited with the repair. But is that a guess, or is that understanding driven by the grammar? I have no idea. And if the grammar is indeed ambiguous, then those preserving that nuance represent the most faithful translation.
     
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