Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English means “(from) the land of wanderers,” “(from the) land of strangers” (same as “Palestinian”). (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Philistines (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Saul

The name that is transliterated as “Saul” in English means “asked for,” “demanded,” “required.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign that depicts “sword in chest” (referring to 1 Samuel 31:4 and 1 Chronicles 10:4) and also “self-centered.” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Saul” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about King Saul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Saul .

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Chr 12:19)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, the Jarai translation uses the inclusive pronoun, including everyone. The Adamawa Fulfulde translation uses the exclusive pronoun.

complete verse (1 Chronicles 12:19)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Chronicles 12:19:

  • Kupsabiny: “There was a time when David was going with the Philistines to fight against Saul. At that time, some soldiers from the clan of Manasseh left Saul and joined David. But the leaders of those Philistines held a council and said, ‘We die if this fellow turns against us and joins with his master Saul.’ So, those leaders chased David to go to Ziklag together with his people” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When David, having joined with the Philistines to go to war with Saul, some soldiers of the tribe of Manasseh escaped to David’s place. He did not actually help the Philistines, however, because the Philistine rulers, having given advice like this, sent him back. "If this one abandons us and unites with his own master, we will no longer have our heads."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “There were also men who came from the tribe of Manase who went with David when he went-with the Filistinhon to fight against Saul. But what-happened, the Filistinhon did- not -agree that David and his men sould-go-with, for they thought that David might be loyal again to Saul. So after their discussion, they caused- David -to-return to Ziklag.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So David welcomed those men, and he appointed them to be leaders of his soldiers. Some men from the tribe of Manasseh also joined David when he went with the soldiers of Philistia to fight against Saul’s army. But David and his men did not really help the army of Philistia. After the leaders of Philistia talked about David and his soldiers, they sent David away. They said, ‘If David joins his master Saul again, we will all be killed {his army will kill all of us}!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Chronicles 12:19

12:19a Some from Manasseh defected to David

Some men from Manasseh’s tribe also joined David’s army. (EEB)
-or-
Some of the warriors who joined David were from the tribe of Manasseh. (Contemporary English Version)

12:19b when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul.

That was at the time when David joined with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (EEB)
-or-
They had earlier gone with David when he agreed to fight on the side of the Philistines against King Saul. (Contemporary English Version)

12:19c (They did not help the Philistines because the Philistine rulers consulted

But David and his men were not able to help the Philistines like that. (EEB) That was because the leaders of the Philistines discussed it
-or-
In the end David and his men did not fight on the side of the Philistine army. After talking about it,

12:19d and sent David away, saying,

and decided to send David and his men away. They said,
-or-
the Philistine officers would not let David fight ⌊with them against Saul⌋ . They said

12:19e “It will cost us our heads if he defects to his master Saul.”)

‘‘David may turn against us and go to help his master Saul, instead. If he does that, we will all be dead!’’ (EEB)
-or-
that David might betray them to Saul so that Saul ⌊, who wanted to kill David,⌋ would accept him back.

12:19:a–e (combined-reordered)

Also men from the tribe of Manasseh joined David. This happened when the army of the Philistines went to war against king Saul. At that time David was hiding from Saul in the land called Philistia. He wanted to join the Philistines in the war. But the officers of the Philistine’s king would not let him. They feared that during the battle David might betray them and help Saul, the king of Israel. Then they all would die.

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