Philistines

The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English 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)

complete verse (1 Samuel 13:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 13:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “The Philistines sent three groups of soldiers to go and check/patrol. One went to the city of Ophrah which was in Shual region.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From the tents of the Philistines came three groups who plundered. One group went towards Ophrah which was in the district of Shual.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, the Filistinhon went-out from their camp in three groups to-attack. One group went to Ofra, in the land of Shual.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Three groups of Philistia men soon left the place where their army was staying, and went and raided the Israeli towns/attacked the Israelis and took their possessions. One group went north toward Ophrah city in the Shual region.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 13:17

The raiders went out in verses 17-18 to the north, west, and east. Since the locations of the places mentioned in verses 17-18 will not be known to most readers, it may be helpful to make the directions explicit in translation. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is a good model: “one company went north in direction toward Ophrah … another went west in direction toward Beth-horon, and a third toward the east to the ridge of hills from where one can see the Hyena Valley.”

Raiders: see also 14.15. This noun translates a participle in Hebrew. The root form of the verb means “to spoil,” “to wipe out,” “to bring ruin on.” La Bible Pléiade calls them “shock troops,” that is, troops especially trained for attacking the enemy, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “an attack squadron.” The singular form of the participle is found in 2 Sam 24.16, where Revised Standard Version translates it “[the angel] who was working destruction.”

Came out: this verb is usually rendered “to go out” or “to come out.” In this context, however, New Jerusalem Bible rightly says “sailed out,” expressing the swiftness of the attack. (The English idioms “sail out” or “sail into” refer to quick or vigorous action in attacking something or someone.)

The word translated companies is literally “heads.” But in this context it refers to groups of soldiers. Some model translations in English versions are “parties” (Revised English Bible), “bands” (New American Bible), and “detachments” (An American Translation, New International Version).

Ophrah was a city in the territory of Benjamin (see Josh 18.23), a short distance north of Michmash. Ophrah was located in Shual, a region located in southern Mount Ephraim. This place name Shual occurs in the Old Testament only here and means “fox” or “jackal.” Nueva Biblia Española translates the name as La Zorra, that is, “The Fox.” Fox says “one column facing toward the road to Ofra, toward the Region of the Jackal.”

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 .