Hearkened to the voice of Jonathan: a literal translation of this Hebrew idiom may not express the meaning clearly in many receptor languages. Hearkened to means to accept and act according to what was said, and the voice of refers to the statement that someone made. Though New Revised Standard Version does not retain the archaic verb hearkened, it remains rather literal: “heeded the voice of Jonathan.” Compare “heeded Jonathan’s plea” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New American Bible, and Revised English Bible); “allowed himself to be convinced by Jonathan’s proposal” (Bible en français courant); “agreed” (Contemporary English Version).

That Saul swore does not mean that he cursed or used offensive language, but rather that he “made a vow.” Some other ways of saying this are “took this oath” (New International Version) and “made this promise” (New Century Version). Good News Translation does not maintain the actual words of the vow but rather restructures and uses an indirect quotation. This model may prove useful in other languages.

As the LORD lives: see the comments on 14.39. Fox gives a literal translation of the Hebrew: “As YHWH lives if he should be put-to-death!” but such a translation fails to express the correct meaning in English (see also comments on 14.45).

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 .