The Revised Standard Version rendering I went after him is a literal translation of the Hebrew words, but the meaning of the expression is “I pursued it” (Bible en français courant) or “I would chase it” (New Century Version). New Jerusalem Bible translates “I used to follow it up.”

Delivered it: the pronoun refers to the lamb mentioned in verse 34. And the masculine pronouns him and his refer to the attacking animal.

The pronoun he in the expression if he arose against me may need to be made clearer in translation. It also refers back to “the lion or the bear” who had attacked the sheep.

His beard: it is more natural in English to refer to the hair on an animal’s face as a “mane” rather than as a beard. Technically only the lion and not a bear has a mane. The Septuagint says “throat” instead of beard. For translation purposes it may be better in the receptor language to say “the hair around his throat.” New American Bible translates “I would seize it by the jaw.” Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation translate “I grab it by the throat.”

Smote … and killed: the verb rendered smote twice in this verse means “to hit” or “to beat.” In some contexts it means “to kill.” It is not clear whether one action or two separate actions are intended here. Some understand this to be one action. Klein says “kill him with a blow.” Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible say “batter it to death.” New Revised Standard Version, however, makes this two separate actions, “strike it down, and kill it.” The difference in meaning is slight, and translators should simply choose between the two possible ways of translating.

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 .