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)
The Hebrew, Latin, and Greek that is transliterated as “Samuel” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “listen” referring to 1 Samuel 3:10. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 13:8:
Kupsabiny: “Saul waited for Samuel for seven days as he was told. But because Samuel did not come to Gilgal, people started withdrawing themselves from Saul.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “According to what Samuel had said, Saul was waiting for seven days but Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And his people started leaving Saul.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Saul waited for Samuel at Gilgal for seven days according-to what Samuel had-told him, but Samuel did- not -arrive. When Saul saw that his companions were-fleeing little-by-little,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Saul waited seven days, which was the number of days that Samuel had told him to wait for him. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal during that time, so many of the men in Saul’s army began to leave him and run away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages may require a clear indication of what Saul waited for. Revised English Bible makes this clear by translating “waited for his meeting with Samuel.”
The time appointed by Samuel: or “because Samuel had promised that he would meet him then.” See 10.8.
The people were scattering from him: here again the people refers specifically to the armed troops (see the comments on verses 2 and 4 above). New Jerusalem Bible provides a good model: “the army, deserting Saul, began dispersing.” See also Anchor Bible: “the army began to drift away from him.” It should be clear in the receptor language that the people were scattering from Saul and not from Samuel. So it may be advisable to use the proper noun in place of the pronoun.
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 .
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