The reference to the cook with the definite article refers to the person preparing the food for the meal for Samuel, Saul and his servant, and the other guests (verse 22). Anchor Bible translates “the butcher,” since this noun seems to be related to a word having to do with the killing of animals as well as preparing them for eating. In this context cook seems to be a better translation than “butcher,” even though this person may have killed the animal and cooked it.

This verse contains a quotation within a quotation. Good News Translation has restructured it and turned Samuel’s earlier statement, “Put it aside,” into an indirect quotation.

As verse 24 makes clear, the portion refers to a “piece of meat.” Many languages will find it necessary to add this implied information.

Another way of reordering the elements in this sentence and avoiding the embedded quotation may be to say “I told you earlier to set aside a certain piece of meat that I gave you. Now I want you to bring it to me.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .