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The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

Other translations include:

  • San Blas Kuna: “help the heart”
  • Laka: “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver”
  • Huautla Mazatec: “lift out on behalf of”
  • Anuak: “have life because of”
  • Central Mazahua: “be healed in the heart”
  • Baoulé: “save one’s head”
  • Guerrero Amuzgo: “come out well”
  • Northwestern Dinka: “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source for all above: Bratcher / Nida),
  • Matumbi: “rescue (from danger)” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
  • Noongar: barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • South Bolivian Quechua: “make to escape”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand” (source for this and one above: Nida 1947, p. 222)
  • Bariai: “retrieve one back” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

See also salvation and save (Japanese honorifics).

complete verse (1 Samuel 12:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 12:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “Don’t again kneel down before idols/gods who will never save you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not follow useless gods. They are neither able to help nor are [they] able to deliver for they are useless.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (plur.)] do- not -serve the worthless little-gods. They can- not -help or -save you (plur.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Do not abandon Yahweh and worship useless idols. They cannot help you or save you from your enemies, because they are truly useless.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 12:21

Footnotes in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation state that the Masoretic Text says “and do not turn aside because after vain things.” It is difficult to see how the conjunction “because” can be translated here. All translations seem to omit it, and translators in other languages will probably do so also. It should be noted, however, that the Hebrew word ky may be understood as a demonstrative particle expressing a strong positive statement here, rather than as a conjunction meaning “because.” Fox, for example, says “You are not to turn-aside, indeed, after the (gods of) confusion.”

The verb rendered turn aside after means to leave one thing for the purpose of following another. In this context it may be translated “abandon” or “desert” (Knox), “transfer your allegiance” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “swerve in search of” (Moffatt).

Vain things: literally “nothingness.” This term refers to “false gods” in Isa 41.29; 44.9. New International Version renders the term here in 1 Samuel “useless idols.” Some other renderings are “sham gods” (Revised English Bible) and “meaningless idols” (New American Bible). The repetition at the end of the verse of the fact that these idols are vain is intentional and is meant to emphasize the uselessness of all gods other than Yahweh. New American Bible translates “they are nothing.”

The words which cannot profit speak of bringing no benefit or doing no good. But this is not primarily a reference to material benefit. The term used in translation should have a more general meaning.

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 .