Saul

The name that is transliterated as “Saul” in English means “asked for,” “demanded,” “required.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

It 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 .

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (1 Samuel 14:40)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 14:40:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Saul said that, ‘All of you stand on the other side and I stand on this side with my son Jonathan.’ They replied to him that, ‘Do as you wish.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Saul said to all the Israelites, ̈"All of you say in one place, and my son Jonathan and I will stay in one place." Then the people said, "Do just what seems right to you."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Saul said to all the Israelinhon, ‘[You (plur.)] stand there, and I and my child/(son) Jonatan will-stand here.’ And the people agreed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Saul said to all the Israeli soldiers, ‘You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.’
    His men replied, ‘Do whatever you think is best.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

Japanese benefactives (yō ni shite)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. Here, yō ni shite (ようにして) or “do so (so that) / make it like” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).”

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 14:40

The words to all Israel really mean “to all those Israelites present” at the time. It may be more naturally translated “to all the army,” or simply “to them” (Good News Translation).

Jonathan my son: for reasons of English style, Good News Translation omits the words my son and also reverses the order of I and Jonathan. Translators should follow what is natural in their own language.

It is unclear whether the separation of Saul and Jonathan from the rest of the troops indicates that Saul was aware of Jonathan’s guilt and was trying to manipulate the situation. There is no clear evidence that he had any idea what Jonathan had done.

If indirect speech is preferred instead of a direct quotation, the following model may be helpful:

• Then Saul instructed his army to stand opposite him and his son Jonathan. And the soldiers agreed that Saul should do whatever he saw fit to do.

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 .