prophesy

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The Hebrew and the Greek that are translated in English versions as “prophesy” are translated into Anuak as “sing a song” (source: Loren Bliese), into Balanta-Kentohe as “passing on message of God” (source: Rob Koops), and into Ixcatlán Mazatec with a term that does not only refer to the future, but is “speak on behalf of God” (source: Robert Bascom).

Other translations include: “God making someone to show something in advance” (Ojitlán Chinantec), “God causing someone to think and then say it” (Aguaruna), “speaking God’s thoughts” (Shipibo-Conibo), “God made someone say something” “Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac) (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125), “proclaim God’s message” (Teutila Cuicatec), “speak for God” (Chichimeca-Jonaz), “preach the Word of God” (Lalana Chinantec), “speak God’s words” (Tepeuxila Cuicatec), “that which God’s Spirit will cause one to say one will say” (Mayo) (source for this and four above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), “say what God wants people to hear” (tell people God wod dat e gii oona fa say) (Gullah) (source: Robert Bascom), and “bring God’s mouth” (Bariai) (source: Bariai Back Translation).

In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:

  • For Acts 3:18, 3:21, 3:25: nurwowohora — “mouth says words that don’t come from one’s own mind.” (“This term refers to an individual’s speaking words that are not his because either a good or bad spirit is at work through him. The speaker is not in control of himself.”)
  • For Acts 19:6, Acts 21:9: nakotnohora — “talk about.” (“The focus of this term is on telling God’s message for the present as opposed to the future.”)
  • For Acts 21:11: rora — “foretell” (“The focus of this term is giving God’s message concerning the future. The person who speaks is aware of what he is doing and he is using his own mind, yet it is with God’s power that he foretells the future.”)

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

See also prophet and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.

complete verse (1 Samuel 10:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 10:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “After Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the mountain/hill of sacrifices.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After uttering prophecy, Saul went up the place of worship.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After Saul told the message of God, he went to place-of-worship at the high place.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When Saul finished speaking the messages that God gave him, he went to the place where the people offered sacrifices.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 10:13

Since the pronoun he might be interpreted as referring to the “man of the place” (verse 12), it may be wise to supply the name of Saul as the subject of the initial verb in this verse.

On the meaning and translation of prophesying in this context, see the comments on verse 5.

He came to the high place: since the next verse says that Saul’s uncle spoke to him, some interpreters think that Saul must have returned home, and that the Hebrew here must have said either that Saul “came to Gibeah” (New Jerusalem Bible and Stuttgarter Erklärungsbibel) or “came to the house [or, home]” (so New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and Osty-Trinquet). See the comments on verse 10 above.

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that Saul’s uncle may have been at the high place, since people met and ate there (see 9.19). On high place see verse 5.

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 .