NLT Notes
1:9 Or to the Serpent’s Stone; Greek version supports reading Zoheleth as a proper name.
1:38 Hebrew the Kerethites and Pelethites; also in 1:44.
2:5a Or He murdered them during a time of peace as revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war.
2:5b As in some Greek and Old Latin manuscripts; Hebrew reads with the blood of war.
2:6 Hebrew don’t let his white head go down to Sheol in peace.
2:9 Hebrew how to bring his white head down to Sheol in blood.
2:32 Hebrew will return his blood on his own head.
4:11 Hebrew Naphath-dor, a variant spelling of Naphoth-dor.
4:12 Hebrew Beth-shean, a variant spelling of Beth-shan; also in 4:12b.
4:13 Hebrew Jair son of Manasseh; compare 1 Chr 2:22.
4:19a Greek version reads of Gad; compare 4:13.
4:19b As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew lacks of Judah. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:21a Verses 4:21-34 are numbered 5:1-14 in Hebrew text.
4:21b Hebrew the river; also in 4:24.
4:22 Hebrew 30 cors [6.6 kiloliters] of choice flour and 60 cors [13.2 kiloliters] of meal.
4:23 Or and fattened geese.
4:25 Hebrew each family lived under its own grapevine and under its own fig tree.
4:26a As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 2 Chr 9:25); Hebrew reads 40,000.
4:26b Or 12,000 charioteers.
5:1 Verses 5:1-18 are numbered 5:15-32 in Hebrew text.
5:9 Hebrew the sea.
5:11a Hebrew 20,000 cors [4,400 kiloliters].
5:11b As in Greek version, which reads 20,000 baths [420 kiloliters] (see also 2 Chr 2:10); Hebrew reads 20 cors, about 1,000 gallons or 4.4 kiloliters in volume.
5:16 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 2 Chr 2:2, 18); Hebrew reads 3,300.
6:1 Hebrew It was in the month of Ziv, which is the second month. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of April and May.
6:2 Hebrew 60 cubits [27.6 meters] long, 20 cubits [9.2 meters] wide, and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] high.
6:3a Hebrew 20 cubits [9.2 meters]; also in 6:16, 20.
6:3b Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters].
6:6 Hebrew the bottom floor being 5 cubits [2.3 meters] wide, the second floor 6 cubits [2.8 meters] wide, and the top floor 7 cubits [3.2 meters] wide.
6:8 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads middle floor.
6:10 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters].
6:17 Hebrew 40 cubits [18.4 meters].
6:20 Or overlaid the altar with cedar. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
6:21 Or to draw curtains across. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
6:23a Or pine; Hebrew reads oil tree; also in 6:31, 33.
6:23b Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters]; also in 6:24, 25.
6:24 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters].
6:31 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
6:37 Hebrew was laid in the month of Ziv. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of April and May.
6:38 Hebrew by the month of Bul, which is the eighth month. This month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of October and November.
7:2 Hebrew 100 cubits [46 meters] long, 50 cubits [23 meters] wide, and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] high.
7:3 Or 45 rafters, or 45 beams, or 45 pillars. The architectural details in 7:2-6 can be interpreted in many different ways.
7:5 Greek version reads windows.
7:6 Hebrew 50 cubits [23 meters] long and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] wide.
7:7 As in Syriac version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads from floor to floor.
7:10 Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters] . . . 8 cubits [3.7 meters].
7:13 Hebrew Hiram (also in 7:40, 45); compare 2 Chr 2:13. This is not the same person mentioned in 5:1.
7:15 Hebrew 18 cubits [8.3 meters] tall and 12 cubits [5.5 meters] in circumference.
7:16 Hebrew 5 cubits [2.3 meters].
7:19 Hebrew 4 cubits [1.8 meters]; also in 7:38.
7:21 Jakin probably means “he establishes”; Boaz probably means “in him is strength.”
7:23 Hebrew 10 cubits [4.6 meters] across. . . . 5 cubits [2.3 meters] deep and 30 cubits [13.8 meters] in circumference.
7:24 Or 20 gourds per meter; Hebrew reads 10 per cubit.
7:25 Hebrew 12 oxen; compare 2 Kgs 16:17, which specifies bronze oxen.
7:26a Hebrew a handbreadth [8 centimeters].
7:26b Hebrew 2,000 baths [42 kiloliters].
7:27 Hebrew 4 cubits [1.8 meters] long, 4 cubits wide, and 3 cubits [1.4 meters] high.
7:31a Hebrew a cubit [46 centimeters].
7:31b Hebrew 11/2 cubits [69 centimeters]; also in 7:32.
7:35 Hebrew half a cubit wide [23 centimeters].
7:38 Hebrew 40 baths [840 liters].
8:2 Hebrew at the festival in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. The Festival of Shelters began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day occurred in late September, October, or early November.
8:4 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; i.e., the tent mentioned in 2 Sam 6:17 and 1 Chr 16:1.
8:9 Hebrew at Horeb, another name for Sinai.
8:13 Some Greek texts add the line Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?
8:65a Hebrew the festival; see note on 8:2.
8:65b Hebrew seven days and seven days, fourteen days; compare parallel text at 2 Chr 7:8-10.
8:66 Hebrew On the eighth day, probably referring to the day following the seven-day Festival of Shelters; compare parallel text at 2 Chr 7:9-10.
9:14a Or For Hiram had paid.
9:14b Hebrew 120 talents [4,000 kilograms].
9:15 Hebrew the millo; also in 9:24. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
9:18 An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text reads Tadmor.
9:19 Or and charioteers.
9:21 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
9:26a As in Greek version (see also 2 Kgs 14:22; 16:6); Hebrew reads Eloth, a variant spelling of Elath.
9:26b Hebrew sea of reeds.
9:28 Hebrew 420 talents [14 metric tons].
10:1 Or which was due to the name of the LORD. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
10:6 Hebrew your words.
10:8 Greek and Syriac versions and Latin Vulgate read your wives.
10:10 Hebrew 120 talents [4,000 kilograms].
10:11 Hebrew almug wood; also in 10:12.
10:14 Hebrew 666 talents [23 metric tons].
10:16 Hebrew 600 [shekels] of gold [6.8 kilograms].
10:17 Hebrew 3 minas [1.8 kilograms].
10:22 Or and baboons.
10:26 Or charioteers; also in 10:26b.
10:27 Hebrew the Shephelah.
10:28a Possibly Muzur, a district near Cilicia; also in 10:29.
10:28b Hebrew Kue, probably another name for Cilicia.
10:29a Hebrew 600 [shekels] of silver, about 15 pounds or 6.8 kilograms in weight.
10:29b Hebrew 150 [shekels], about 3.8 pounds or 1.7 kilograms in weight.
11:5 Hebrew Milcom, a variant spelling of Molech; also in 11:33.
11:7 Hebrew On the mountain east of Jerusalem.
11:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads weaned him.
11:27 Hebrew the millo. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
11:33 As in Greek, Syriac, and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads For they have.
12:2 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2); Hebrew reads he lived in Egypt.
12:18 As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 4:6; 5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.
12:25 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.
12:28 Hebrew to them.
12:32 This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late October or early November, exactly one month after the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah (see Lev 23:34).
13:11 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads son.
13:12 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads They had seen.
14:15 Hebrew the river.
14:31 Also known as Abijah.
15:1 Also known as Abijah.
15:2 Hebrew Abishalom (also in 15:10), a variant spelling of Absalom; compare 2 Chr 11:20.
15:6 As in a few Hebrew and Greek manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts read between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
15:10 Or The queen mother; Hebrew reads His mother (also in 15:13); compare 15:2.
15:12 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung.
15:19 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads There is a treaty.
16:24 Hebrew for 2 talents [68 kilograms] of silver.
16:34 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition reads He killed his oldest son when he laid its foundations, and he killed his youngest son when he set up its gates.
18:19 Hebrew who eat at Jezebel’s table.
18:27 Or is busy somewhere else, or is engaged in business.
18:31 Hebrew each of the tribes of the sons of Jacob to whom the LORD had said, “Your name will be Israel.”
18:32 Hebrew 2 seahs [14.6 liters] of seed.
18:33 Verse 18:34 in the Hebrew text begins here.
18:36 Hebrew and Israel. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.
18:46 Hebrew He bound up his loins.
19:8 Hebrew to Horeb, another name for Sinai.
19:16 Hebrew descendant of Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14.
20:12 Or in Succoth; also in 20:16.
20:22 Hebrew at the turn of the year; similarly in 20:26. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April.
20:39 Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms].
20:42 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
21:17 Hebrew Elijah the Tishbite; also in 21:28.
21:21 As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks So now the LORD says.
21:23 As in several Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac, and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Kgs 9:26, 36); most Hebrew manuscripts read at the city wall.
21:26 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung.
22:17 Hebrew These people have no master.
22:34 Hebrew Turn your hand.
22:38 Or his blood, and the prostitutes bathed [in it]; or his blood, and they washed his armor.
22:43 Verses 22:43b-53 are numbered 22:44-54 in Hebrew text.
22:48 Hebrew fleet of ships of Tarshish.
1:8 Or He was wearing clothing made of hair.
1:17 Hebrew Jehoram, a variant spelling of Joram.
2:21 Or or make the land unproductive; Hebrew reads or barrenness.
3:1 Hebrew Jehoram, a variant spelling of Joram; also in 3:6.
3:11 Hebrew He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.
3:13 Hebrew What is there in common between you and me?
3:15 Hebrew the hand.
3:24 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
3:27 Or So Israel’s anger was great. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
4:29 Hebrew Bind up your loins.
5:1 Or from a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases.
5:5 Hebrew 10 talents [340 kilograms] of silver, 6,000 [shekels] [68 kilograms] of gold.
5:13 Hebrew My father.
5:22 Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms].
5:23 Hebrew take 2 talents [150 pounds or 68 kilograms].
5:24 Hebrew the Ophel.
6:25 Hebrew sold for 80 [shekels] [2 pounds or 0.9 kilograms] of silver, and 1/4 of a cab [0.3 liters] of dove’s dung sold for 5 [shekels] [2 ounces or 57 grams]. Dove’s dung may be a variety of wild vegetable.
6:33 Hebrew he.
7:1a Hebrew 1 seah [7.3 liters] of choice flour will cost 1 shekel [0.4 ounces or 11 grams]; also in 7:16, 18.
7:1b Hebrew 2 seahs [14.6 liters] of barley grain will cost 1 shekel [0.4 ounces or 11 grams]; also in 7:16, 18.
7:3 Or with a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases.
7:6 Possibly and the people of Muzur, a district near Cilicia.
8:11a Hebrew He stared at him.
8:11b The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
8:13 Hebrew a dog.
8:21a Hebrew Joram, a variant spelling of Jehoram; also in 8:23, 24.
8:21b Greek version reads Seir.
8:21c Or he went out and escaped. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
8:29 Hebrew Ramah, a variant spelling of Ramoth.
9:1 Hebrew Bind up your loins.
9:15 Hebrew Jehoram, a variant spelling of Joram; also in 9:17, 21, 22, 23, 24.
9:23 Hebrew turned his hands.
9:27 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks So they shot Ahaziah.
9:31 See 1 Kgs 16:9-10, where Zimri killed his master, King Elah.
10:1 As in some Greek manuscripts and Latin Vulgate (see also 10:6); Hebrew reads of Jezreel.
10:25a Or and they left their bodies lying there; or and they threw them out into the outermost court.
10:25b Hebrew city.
10:26 As in Greek and Syriac versions and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads sacred pillars.
11:2 Hebrew Joram, a variant spelling of Jehoram.
11:12 Or a copy of the covenant.
11:15 Or Bring her out from between the ranks; or Take her out of the Temple precincts. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
11:21a Verse 11:21 is numbered 12:1 in Hebrew text.
11:21b Hebrew Jehoash, a variant spelling of Joash.
12:1a Verses 12:1-21 are numbered 12:2-22 in Hebrew text.
12:1b Hebrew Jehoash, a variant spelling of Joash; also in 12:2, 4, 6, 7, 18.
12:21 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads Jozabad.
13:9 Hebrew Joash, a variant spelling of Jehoash; also in 13:10, 12, 13, 14, 25.
14:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant spelling of Jehoash; also in 14:13, 23, 27.
14:6 Deut 24:16.
14:8 Hebrew Come, let us look one another in the face.
14:13 Hebrew 400 cubits [180 meters].
14:21 Hebrew Azariah, a variant spelling of Uzziah.
14:25 Hebrew the sea of the Arabah.
14:28 Or to Yaudi. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
14:29 As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew lacks he was buried in Samaria.
15:1 Hebrew Azariah, a variant spelling of Uzziah; also in 15:6, 7, 8, 17, 23, 27.
15:5 Or with a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here and throughout this passage can describe various skin diseases.
15:10 Or at Ibleam.
15:16 As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads Tiphsah.
15:19a Hebrew Pul, another name for Tiglath-pileser.
15:19b Hebrew 1,000 talents [34 metric tons].
15:20 Hebrew 50 shekels [20 ounces or 570 grams].
16:3 Or even making his son pass through the fire.
16:6a As in Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads Rezin king of Aram.
16:6b As in Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads Aram.
16:6c As in Greek version, Latin Vulgate, and an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text; the other alternate reads Arameans.
16:7 Hebrew your son.
16:15 Hebrew the great altar.
16:18 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
17:4 Or by asking the king of Egypt at Sais.
17:12 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung.
17:17 Or They even made their sons and daughters pass through the fire.
17:21 Hebrew he; compare 1 Kgs 11:31-32.
18:2 As in parallel text at 2 Chr 29:1; Hebrew reads Abi, a variant spelling of Abijah.
18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew terms that mean “snake,” “bronze,” and “unclean thing.”
18:13 The fourteenth year of Hezekiah’s reign was 701 B.C.
18:14 Hebrew 300 talents [10 metric tons] of silver and 30 talents [1 metric ton] of gold.
18:17a Or the rabshakeh; also in 18:19, 26, 27, 28, 37.
18:17b Or bleached.
18:26 Hebrew in the dialect of Judah; also in 18:28.
19:4 Or the rabshakeh; also in 19:8.
19:7 Hebrew I will put a spirit in him.
19:9 Hebrew of Cush.
19:31 As in Greek and Syriac versions, Latin Vulgate, and an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text (see also Isa 37:32); the other alternate reads the LORD.
19:35 Hebrew When they.
19:37 As in Greek version and an alternate reading of the Masoretic Text (see also Isa 37:38); the other alternate reading lacks his sons.
20:4 As in Greek version and an alternate reading in the Masoretic Text; the other alternate reads the middle of the city.
20:9 Or The shadow on the sundial has gone forward ten steps; do you want it to go backward ten steps?
20:11 Hebrew the steps.
20:12 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also Isa 39:1); Masoretic Text reads Berodach-baladan.
20:20 Hebrew watercourse.
21:6 Or also made his son pass through the fire.
21:11 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 21:21.
21:13 Hebrew the same plumb line I used for Samaria and the same plumb bob.
22:14 Or the Second Quarter, a newer section of Jerusalem. Hebrew reads the Mishneh.
22:16 Hebrew this place; also in 22:19, 20.
23:9 Hebrew did not come up to.
23:10 Or to make a son or daughter pass through the fire.
23:11 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
23:12 Or He quickly removed them.
23:13 Hebrew Milcom, a variant spelling of Molech.
23:16 As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks when Jeroboam stood beside the altar at the festival. Then Josiah turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God.
23:19 As in Greek and Syriac versions and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew lacks the LORD.
23:24 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung.
23:29a Or Josiah went out to meet him.
23:29b Hebrew he.
23:33a The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
23:33b Hebrew 100 talents [3,400 kilograms] of silver and 1 talent [34 kilograms] of gold.
24:2 Or Chaldean.
24:13 Or He cut apart.
24:17 Hebrew his.
25:1 Hebrew on the tenth day of the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. A number of events in 2 Kings can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This day was January 15, 588 B.C.
25:3 Hebrew By the ninth day of the [fourth] month [in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign] (compare Jer 39:2; 52:6 and the notes there). This day was July 18, 586 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.
25:4a Or the Chaldeans; also in 25:13, 25, 26.
25:4b As in Greek version (see also Jer 39:4; 52:7); Hebrew lacks escaped.
25:4c Hebrew the Arabah.
25:5 Or Chaldean; also in 25:10, 24.
25:8 Hebrew On the seventh day of the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 14, 586 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.
25:9 Or destroyed the houses of all the important people.
25:17a Hebrew 18 cubits [8.3 meters].
25:17b As in parallel texts at 1 Kgs 7:16, 2 Chr 3:15, and Jer 52:22, all of which read 5 cubits [2.3 meters]; Hebrew reads 3 cubits, which is 4.5 feet or 1.4 meters.
25:23 As in parallel text at Jer 40:8; Hebrew reads Jaazaniah, a variant spelling of Jezaniah.
25:25 Hebrew in the seventh month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This month occurred within the months of October and November 586 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.
25:27a Hebrew He raised the head of.
25:27b As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also Jer 52:31); Masoretic Text lacks released him.
25:27c Hebrew on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was April 2, 561 B.C.; also see note on 25:1.