Saul

The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Saul” in English 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 .

complete verse (1 Samuel 13:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 13:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “So, when the day for war reached, all Israel men did not have any war things. But Saul alone with his son Jotham had war things (weapons).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So when the battle began, the men who came following Saul and Jonathan had no swords or spears. Only Saul and Jonathan had them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So on the day of the battle, no one of the Israelinhon had a sword or spear aside-from Saul and Jonatan.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So because the Israelis could not make weapons from iron, on the day that the Israelis fought against the men of Philistia, Saul and Jonathan were the only Israeli men who had swords. None of the others had a sword; they had only bows and arrows.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 13:22

So: the common Hebrew conjunction followed by the verb “to be” is rightly taken as a logical transition marker resuming the story following the parenthetical explanation about the reason for the absence of swords and spears on the side of the Israelites. La Bible du Semeur translates the transition more specifically as “That is why,” showing more clearly that the previous verses provide an explanation as to why only Saul and Jonathan had metal weapons.

On the day of battle: Revised English Bible says “when war broke out.”

Good News Translation has restructured this verse since the Hebrew style tends to be heavy in English. Another possible model for restructuring this verse may read:

• Therefore only Saul and Jonathan, his son, had swords and spears when the battle [with the Philistines] began. None of the other Israelite soldiers had such weapons.

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 .