And: in some languages the common Hebrew conjunction found here may be translated as a logical transition marker such as “Therefore” or “So” (New Revised Standard Version). Eli’s reaction was in direct response to what he had observed in the behavior of Hannah. But in several modern versions (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) the conjunction is left untranslated.

Though the Hebrew is literally Eli said to her, Good News Translation substitutes the pronoun “he” in the interest of English style, rather than immediately repeating the noun (see verse 13). But in languages where “he” and “she” are translated by the same word, there may be good reason to retain the proper noun.

The question How long will you be drunken? is not to be taken in its literal sense, as if Eli were asking for information. Rather it is a plea for Hannah to stop the presumed bad habit that Eli thought was behind the behavior he had been observing. Like Good News Translation, several modern versions translate it as an exclamation: “Enough of this drunken behavior!” (Revised English Bible); “Stop getting drunk!” (New Century Version).

Put away your wine from you is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Many versions use a more natural expression in the receptor language, such as “go sleep it off” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “Sober up from your wine!” (New American Bible), “Get rid of your wine!” (New International Version), or simply “Sober up!” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible).

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 .