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)

enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle. (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

complete verse (1 Samuel 14:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 14:30:

  • Kupsabiny: “Now if our people had been given to eat the food they took from the enemies, would the Philistines not have died in big number today? ’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “How good it would have been if we had gotten to eat the food which we brought in the plunder from the enemy today. And think once, how many more Philistines we would have been able to kill."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “How much better we (incl.) would-feel if we (incl.) had-eaten from what we (incl.) took from our (incl.) enemies, and maybe we (incl.) would-have-killed many more Filistinhon.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If he had permitted all of us to eat from the food we took from our enemies while we were pursuing them, we would have been able to kill many more of their soldiers!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)