David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language 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 )

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)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 9:24

But: This verse begins with the Hebrew particle ʾak. There seems to be little reason in this context to translate it as But (also New Revised Standard Version) since there is no obvious contrast. Rather, the writer is simply moving on to another element in the story. De Vries translates it as “To be sure.” But New American Bible and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh are probably better by saying “As soon as….” Osty-Trinquet and Knox are similar in meaning. Cogan (2000) suggests that the Hebrew may originally have read “then” (ʾaz in Hebrew), which is also the reading of the Septuagint.

Pharaoh’s daughter went up: For Pharaoh’s daughter, see verse 16 and 1 Kgs 3.1. In reference to her, Contemporary English Version adds the words “Solomon’s wife” (similarly Good News Translation and New Living Translation with “his wife”) to remind the reader of information from verse 16. The Septuagint says that Solomon “brought up” Pharaoh’s daughter, and this text is followed by Revised English Bible, but nearly all other translations follow the Masoretic Text here. The Hebrew text has went up since moving from the old part of Jerusalem to the palace involved a slight increase in elevation. However, this is only incidental to the story as is seen in the fact that many modern translations render it simply “moved” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version).

The city of David: See the comments on 1 Kgs 2.10.

Which Solomon had built for her is literally “which he had built for her.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation both add the name Solomon to make it clear that the subject of the verb here is Solomon and not the king of Egypt.

Then he built the Millo: See the discussion on Millo in verse 15. In restructuring this verse, Good News Translation nevertheless retains the clear impression that the Millo (or, “landfill”) was built after the palace for Solomon’s wife.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .